stadium

play

noun sta·di·um \ˈstā-dē-əm\

Definition of stadium

plural

stadia

play \-dē-ə\ or

stadiums

1a : any of various ancient Greek units of length ranging in value from 607 to 738 feet (about 185 to 225 meters)b : an ancient Roman unit of length equal to 607 feet (185 meters)
2a : a course for footraces in ancient Greece originally one stadium in lengthb : a tiered structure with seats for spectators surrounding an ancient Greek running trackc : a large usually roofless building with tiers of seats for spectators at sports events
3 [New Latin, from Latin] : a stage in a life history; especially : one between successive molts of an insect

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Examples of stadium in a Sentence

the football game will be held at the new stadium, which seats 100,000 people

Recent Examples of stadium from the Web

Stadium activities begin at 7 p.m. and include a tribute to the American Saddlebred Horse.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "'Hats Off' gives free admission to the Kentucky Horse Park," 20 July 2017
Krestovsky stadium was completed eight years behind schedule and 540% over budget.

— The Economist, "Extra time and punishmentThe cost overruns on Russia’s World Cup stadiums are staggering," 20 July 2017
An early lead is lost in the late innings in dramatic fashion thanks to the hitter-friendly confines of the stadium, specifically the short porch in left known as the Crawford Boxes.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "‘Five-star play’ on outfield wall ricochet saved Mariners in Houston," 19 July 2017
Both stadiums serve Buona Italian beef, which is a totally solid option.

— nick kindelsperger, chicagotribune.com, "Who has the best ballpark food in Chicago, Cubs or Sox?," 19 July 2017
The stadium had been built with federal money, and was on land owned by the District, providing Udall with the leverage to make that demand.

— kevin gover, Smithsonian, "The Washington Football Team Can Legally Keep Its Racist Name. But It Shouldn’t," 13 July 2017
The Spinners and IronBirds will close out the series tonight (Thursday) at the stadium.

— randy mcroberts, The Aegis, "IronBirds see seven-game win streak snapped in 5-3 loss to Lowell," 6 July 2017
Head to Melba High School stadium, 6870 Stokes Ave.

— hailey ross, idahostatesman, "Celebrate the Fourth of July with drag racing, a chicken roundup and fireworks," 29 June 2017
Where to buy: all bakeries, stadiums, convenience stores.

— ali francis, Bon Appetit, "9 Australian Junk Foods That Are All National Treasures," 27 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stadium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stadium

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek stadion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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STADIUM Defined for English Language Learners

stadium

play

noun

Definition of stadium for English Language Learners

: a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events, concerts, etc.