gladiator
/'glædieitə/
Definition
- Noun:
- (Ancient Rome) A professional fighter or captive who entertained the public by fighting to the death in an arena. This is the primary historical meaning, referring to a trained combatant in ancient Roman public spectacles.
- A person engaged in a fierce public fight, debate, or struggle. This is a figurative extension, describing someone who contends vigorously, often for a cause or in a conflict.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Historical):
- The gladiator raised his sword to salute the emperor before the fight.
- In ancient Rome, gladiators fought in the Colosseum.
- Noun (Figurative):
- The senator was a true gladiator in the fierce political debate.
- She was a gladiator for social justice, never backing down from a challenge.
Advanced Usage
- "Gladiatorial" (Adjective): Pertaining to gladiators or their combative nature.
- The debate took on a gladiatorial intensity.
- He survived the gladiatorial corporate environment.
Variants and Related Words
- Gladiatorial (adj): Characteristic of or resembling a gladiator or combat.
- Gladiatorship (n): The state or profession of being a gladiator (less common).
Synonyms
- Combatant: A person or group engaged in a fight.
- Warrior: A person experienced in or engaged in warfare or fighting.
- Contender: A person or group competing with others to achieve something.
- Prize fighter: A professional boxer (relates to one reference definition).
Related Phrases
- Gladiator sandals: A style of footwear with straps resembling the armor of a Roman gladiator.
- She wore a pair of leather gladiator sandals.
Related Idioms
- To enter the arena/gladiatorial arena: To engage in a public contest, debate, or difficult situation.
- By running for office, he was ready to enter the political arena.
Noun
-
a professional boxer
-
(ancient Rome) a professional combatant or a captive who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat
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