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

Just northeast of the plaza is a hilltop park with a cross that gets some of the best sunset views in town. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Next thing her cohosts knew, Guthrie was in a yellow gingham dress on the Today plaza. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Separate from the plaza is a four-bedroom ranch or caretaker’s house, set apart from the compound’s main gathering zones. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026

Fans can watch the games on a large screen at the outdoor plaza or on Sporting KC’s scoreboard from the west end of the stadium seating. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

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