plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplä-zə  ˈpla- 

1

a

: a public square in a city or town

b

: an open area usually located near urban buildings and often featuring walkways, trees and shrubs, places to sit, and sometimes shops

2

: a place on a thoroughfare (such as a turnpike) at which all traffic must temporarily stop (as to pay tolls)

3

: an area adjacent to an expressway which has service facilities (such as a restaurant, gas station, and restrooms)

4

: shopping center

Examples of plaza in a Sentence

They put his statue in the town's plaza.

Recent Examples on the Web

Park construction delayed The first phase, completed in May 2019, included a parking lot, walkways, and a concrete cap on the school’s foundation, which will serve as a plaza. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025

Some five hours before the start of the Aces championship parade, fans line up near T-Mobile Arena plaza. —Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025

Meanwhile, the ball club is pursuing plans for more stadium gathering spaces, including a new public plaza featuring a beer garden, performance stage and mini golf. —Tom Daykin, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 2025

Turns out, the guy had the idea of building a plaza that would cater to the people who stayed in nearby buildings that had been converted into short-time rentals. —Francesco Pacifico, The Dial, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin platea broad street — more at place

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing plaza

• toll plaza

Rhymes for plaza

• causa

Kids Definition

plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplaz-ə  ˈpläz- 

: a public square in a city or town