gladiator

American  

[glad-ee-ey-ter] / ˈglæd iˌeɪ tər /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) a person, often a slave or captive, who was armed with a sword or other weapon and compelled to fight to the death in a public arena against another person or a wild animal, for the entertainment of the spectators.

2. a person who engages in a fight or controversy.

3. a prizefighter.

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gladiator British  

/ ˈɡlædɪˌeɪtə /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome and Etruria) a man trained to fight in arenas to provide entertainment

2. a person who supports and fights publicly for a cause

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Etymology

Origin of gladiator

1535–45; < Latin gladiātor, equivalent to gladi ( us ) sword + -ātor -ator

Example Sentences

The 450,000 objects, which are being held in a secret warehouse, include a possible Roman gladiator's tag, a hand axe that may be more than 40,000 years old and 19th Century gold dentures.

From BBC

No one entertains the idea that one person’s graffitied tribute to a male gladiator might have been defaced by giving the picture breasts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Commodus, now a teenager, had shown he had none of his father’s nature; he so preferred athletics to statecraft that some believed he’d been sired by a gladiator.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This is a modern day gladiator sport," Paul said.

From BBC

But Ashur sees her and the rest of his gladiators as property, believing his wealth and diplomatic acumen can one day buy him a seat at the table of Rome’s most powerful.

From Salon