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

The shop, which has five locations in Georgia and another in Texas, recently opened in the Orange Blossom shopping plaza on Cortez Road in Bradenton. —Jason Dill, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025

Designed by Frida Escobedo, the plaza features seating and a reflecting pool with a fog effect, and doubles as both a gathering spot and place of serene contemplation within the enclave. —Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

But the normally bustling plaza was all but deserted when Mayor Karen Bass visited Sunday morning. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025

Photographs of protesters across the country filling plazas and marching across bridges were reminiscent of scenes from historic debates over the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and more. —Susan Page, USA Today, 16 June 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