gladiator

UK: /ˈglædieɪtə^r/ US: /ˈglædiˌeɪtɚ/ ,(glad′ē ā′tər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

glad•i•a•tor /ˈglædiˌeɪtɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Antiquity (in ancient Rome) a man armed with a sword or other weapon and forced to fight to the death in a public arena for the entertainment of spectators.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

glad•i•a•tor  (glad′ē ā′tər), n. 

1. Antiquity (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.
2. a person who engages in a fight or controversy.
3. a prizefighter.

• Latin gladiātor, equivalent. to gladi(us) sword + -ātor -ator
• 1535–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gladiator / ˈɡlædɪˌeɪtə/ noun

1. (in ancient Rome and Etruria) a man trained to fight in arenas to provide entertainment
2. a person who supports and fights publicly for a cause

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin: swordsman, from gladius sword