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

gladiatorial

ˌgla-dē-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Synonyms

• boxer
• fighter
• prizefighter
• pug
• pugilist

Examples of gladiator in a Sentence

the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners

Recent Examples on the Web

Genetic Analysis of Viking Settlers Challenges Historical Saga Migration Back to Scandinavia The researchers uncovered one person — possibly a Roman soldier or slave gladiator — living in Britain around 100 A.D. to 300 A.D. who had 25 percent Scandinavian ancestry. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2025

There were gladiator movies before Spartacus, and there have been many since, but Stanley Kubrick’s epic is undoubtedly the archetypal gladiator movie. —James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024

The figure appears to be left-handed, suggesting it was based on a real-life fighter, as the Romans believed left-handedness was unlucky and likely wouldn’t have given this trait to a generic gladiator. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024

In his movie career so far, Paul Mescal has played a gladiator, a ghost, an android, and a father. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from gladius sword, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cleddyf sword

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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

gladiatorial

ˌglad-ē-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

-ˈtȯr-

adjective

Etymology

from Latin gladiator, literally, "swordsman," from gladius "sword" — related to gladiolus