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

Lamar brought it all to the Super Bowl where millionaire black athletes compete like gladiators, covering up tensions back home with opposite images of prowess and success. —Armond White, National Review, 12 Feb. 2025

So just like in the gladiator fights in the Colosseum, the tactics can be rough, coarse, brutal and even ugly. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Starz released a new teaser for the series Wednesday, which welcomes a whole new era of gladiators into the arena. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 15 Jan. 2025

Here, he was portrayed as a devoted father, a health-and-fitness addict, a gladiator raging against the ravages of professional athletics. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025

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