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 bar/restaurant spot located in the same plaza area as Globe Life Mall morphed into the epicenter of the World Cup matches played at AT&T Stadium. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026

The garage would be topped with a public plaza featuring six acres of public park space. — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Often, he was told, immigrants aren’t given the chance to call family members before they’re released, and are dropped off at a nearby plaza, often with uncharged cellphones or no phone at all. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

This 1598 building overlooks the downtown plaza and served as headquarters for Spanish and British leaders. — Lane Degregory, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 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