arena
Americannoun
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the oval space in the center of a Roman amphitheater for gladiatorial combats or other performances.
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a central stage, ring, area, or the like, used for sports or other forms of entertainment, surrounded by seats for spectators.
a boxing arena; a circus arena.
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a building housing an arena.
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a field of conflict, activity, or endeavor.
the arena of politics.
noun
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an enclosure or platform, usually surrounded by seats on all sides, in which sports events, contests, entertainments, etc, take place
a boxing arena
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( as modifier )
arena stage
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the central area of an ancient Roman amphitheatre, in which gladiatorial contests and other spectacles were held
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a sphere or scene of conflict or intense activity
the political arena
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of arena
1620–30; < Latin ( h ) arēna sand, sandy place, area sanded for combat
Explanation
If you're watching a college basketball game in person, chances are you're in an arena — a building specially designed for sporting events and large-scale rock concerts. There's not much difference between an arena and a stadium, although an arena is enclosed and a stadium sometimes has an open roof. Football is usually played in a stadium, while basketball and other sports typically hold their games in arenas. The word arena originally meant "place of combat," and it's sometimes still used this way. Its root is harena, a kind of sand that was supposedly used on the floor during ancient Roman battles to soak up spilled blood.
Vocabulary lists containing arena
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 17–January 23, 2026
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 12–January 18, 2025
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5-letter words, List 1
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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.
Wednesday’s show was the first in a handful he’s playing around Southern California this week, including a gig scheduled for Saturday night at Palm Desert’s Acrisure Arena.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
L.A. is riding a two-game losing streak and will face Eastern Conference leader New York Liberty on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026
Arena football is an indoor version of American football and there are several leagues across America, with the IAL launching this year.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
She returned to Andy Murray Arena a little over two and a half hours later and dispatched highly-rated American teenager Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
He’d learned more in the parking lot of the Lonestar Arena than he had learned all year in class.
From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar
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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.