gladiator
Americannoun
-
(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.
-
a person who engages in a fight or controversy.
-
a prizefighter.
noun
-
(in ancient Rome and Etruria) a man trained to fight in arenas to provide entertainment
-
a person who supports and fights publicly for a cause
Etymology
Origin of gladiator
1535–45; < Latin gladiātor, equivalent to gladi ( us ) sword + -ātor -ator
Explanation
In ancient Rome, gladiators fought each other in front of an audience. Though these fights were called "games," they often ended in the death of one of the gladiators. Although they were celebrated in art and applauded for their strength and fighting skill, it wasn't easy to be an ancient Roman gladiator. They were essentially slaves who were forced to fight, sometimes being matched against wild animals or criminals. While the gladiator games may seem horrible to us today, they lasted almost a thousand years. The word gladiator comes from the Latin gladius, or "sword."
Vocabulary lists containing gladiator
Ancient Rome - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Roman and Byzantine Empires, Lessons 3–4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bigg announced the news on his Instagram page on Friday, saying that being a Gladiator had been "one of the greatest honours of my life".
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
The White House's X account has meanwhile posted its own war-themed content -- combining battlefield footage with clips from films such as "Iron Man," "Gladiator" and "Top Gun."
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
World champions Miura and Kihara had already topped Friday's short programme, and were error-free in their free skate to the "Gladiator" soundtrack.
From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026
He said Billings was "a Gladiator as far as I'm concerned, and we're all cheering him on".
From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026
I take more photos: the ongoing handball match, the monkey bars where we played Gladiator, the long yellow slide, the swings.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
