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

Whitmer said the plaza being named after Nick Gilbert is a reminder that the center of Detroit's revival has always been love for family and community and hope for a brighter future. —Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025

The vehicle reportedly sped into a shopping plaza, where the incident — captured on video — unfolded. —Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025

Ancient calendar The center of the site is a large, raised rectangular platform or plaza with room for more than 1,000 people to gather. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

This weekend there will be six shows across two days showcasing Disney On Ice at Golden 1 Center, 500 David J Stern Walk, inside the Downtown Commons shopping plaza in Sacramento. —Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 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