arena
- 1A large place with seats all around where people watch sports, shows, or concerts.
Like a giant indoor stadium with a roof over everyone's heads.
They built a huge arena downtown for basketball and concerts.
Thousands lined up outside the arena before the concert.
- 2An area of activity, interest, or study where things happen.
Like a playing field, but for ideas or jobs instead of sports.
She wanted to work in the arena of public health.
Politics is a tough arena for newcomers.
UsageSay the political arena or the arena of sport.
Similarfield, sphere, realm, domain, world
Note
- 3The sandy floor at the center of a Roman amphitheater where fighters competed.
Like the middle of a sports field, but used for real fights long ago.
Two gladiators faced each other on the bloody arena.
The crowd roared as a lion was loosed into the arena.
Note
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin arēna, meaning "sand" or "arena." It may have come from Etruscan.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- English arena comes from Latin arēna, meaning sand or arena. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin word may ultimately come from Etruscan. en.wiktionary.org