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

Plans include a plaza in front of the two residential buildings and walkways leading toward City Hall. —Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 12 Apr. 2026

Estrada-Vicente, who was driving the vehicle, allegedly fled through the parking lot and exited the Home Depot plaza the wrong way via the one-way entrance to the plaza, nearly striking other cars attempting to pull into the lot, according to police. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026

The welcome center's plaza is planted with natives like azaleas, oakleaf hydrangea, bottlebrush buckeye, and needle palm. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

Parker added that the area remains an active search and rescue scene with the immediate area — including a shopping plaza and other stores — closed with no timeline for reopening. —Adam England, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 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