gladiator
noun
glad·i·a·tor
ˈgla-dē-ˌā-tər 
1
: a person engaged in a fight to the death as public entertainment for ancient Romans
2
: a person engaging in a public fight or controversy
3
: a trained fighter
especially
: a professional boxer
Examples of gladiator in a Sentence
the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners
Recent Examples on the Web
Like his father, Lucius is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator for the entertainment of a wealthy Roman emperor and hordes of bloodthirsty spectators.
—
Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 8 Nov. 2024
Many gladiators only lived to their mid-20s, per the source.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 10 Oct. 2024
Lucius returns to Rome after being forced into slavery to battle not as a ruler but as a gladiator out for revenge and power, seeking to return the glory of Rome to its people.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
The video then shows a series of scenes depicting Trump as a gladiator, speeches from wrestler Hulk Hogan and various images of flags and rockets.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gladiator 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 8 Nov. 2024
Many gladiators only lived to their mid-20s, per the source.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 10 Oct. 2024
Lucius returns to Rome after being forced into slavery to battle not as a ruler but as a gladiator out for revenge and power, seeking to return the glory of Rome to its people.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
The video then shows a series of scenes depicting Trump as a gladiator, speeches from wrestler Hulk Hogan and various images of flags and rockets.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gladiator
Dictionary Entries Near gladiator
Cite this Entry
“Gladiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladiator. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gladiator
noun
glad·i·a·tor
ˈglad-ē-ˌāt-ər
1
: a person engaged in a fight to the death for public entertainment in ancient Rome
2
: a person engaging in a fierce fight or controversy
Etymology
from Latin gladiator, literally, "swordsman," from gladius "sword" — related to gladiolus
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share