plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplä-zə How to pronounce plaza (audio) ˈpla- How to pronounce plaza (audio)
Synonyms of plazanext
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

Examples of plaza in a Sentence

They put his statue in the town's plaza.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That was more than three years ago, and since 2023, the cafeteria has been an outdoor plaza. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 The series, produced by the audience engagement nonprofit called See Chicago Dance, includes twice-weekly festive dance events (many of them interactive) in the plaza beside Navy Pier’s Ferris wheel. Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026 And some of the best evidence of the lovebugs’ comeback came last week at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on Florida’s Turnpike, where filthy, splattered cars and trucks queued up before the plaza’s automatic windshield washer. Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026 The Payne Avenue parking lot will be converted into a plaza with seating, board and lawn games and books that Xiong is confident will encourage area residents to engage with their community again, and subsequently shop and dine at the businesses in the area. Hannah Brueske, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaza

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin platea broad street — more at place

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of plaza was in 1683

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plaza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaza. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

plaza

noun
pla·​za ˈplaz-ə How to pronounce plaza (audio) ˈpläz- How to pronounce plaza (audio)
: a public square in a city or town

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