retiarius

American  

[ree-shee-air-ee-uhs] / ˌri ʃiˈɛər i əs /

noun

Roman History.

plural

retiarii

1. a gladiator equipped with a net for casting over his opponent.

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retiarius British  

/ ˌriːtɪˈɛərɪəs, ˌriːʃɪ- /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) a gladiator armed with a net and trident

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Etymology

Origin of retiarius

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin rēte “net” + -i-, connecting vowel + -ārius, noun suffix; see origin at rete ( def. ), -i- -ary ( def. )

Example Sentences

One speaks of a gladiator in the singular, but we learn from Mr. Sidebottom that there were at least nine different types of gladiator: the murmillo, the thraex, the retiarius, the eques and so on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In his hands were the weapons of a retiarius - a trident and a weighted net.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Everybody knew of my rescue of the retiarius, thousands had seen me rescue him.

From The Unwilling Vestal by White, Edward Lucas

Here, face downward, was a Samnite with his oblong shield; yonder lay a bare headed retiarius with his net and three-pointed lance.

From The Mother of St. Nicholas A Story of Duty and Peril by Balfour, Grant

As the two men face each other and the lanista gives the signal anyone can see, usually, that the retiarius is confident of victory and the secutor wary and cautious or even afraid.

From Andivius Hedulio Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire by White, Edward Lucas