What does "gladiator" mean?
A person (professional or slave) who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat with another, or with a wild animal.
Gladiator
/ˈɡlædiˌeɪtɚ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person (professional or slave) who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat with another, or with a wild animal.
- Grammar: gladiator is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: athlete, battler, belligerent, belted knight.
- Useful contrasts: civilian, diplomat, noncombatant.
- Usage evidence: Putting his trust in God and taking the bull by the horns, the Christian gladiator defeated many adversaries.
How to use "gladiator"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gladiator" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gladiator" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "gladiator" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gladiator" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gladiator" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "athlete" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "gladiator", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person (professional or slave) who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat with another, or with a wild animal. Ancient-Rome
"My mother prepared herself for the evening with the same somber deliberateness of the gladiators in Spartacus."
- 2 (ancient Rome) a professional combatant or a captive who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat wordnet
- 3 A disputant in a public controversy or debate. broadly
- 4 a professional boxer wordnet
- 5 A professional boxer.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Synonym of heelwalker (“Any of the order Mantophasmatodea of carnivorous, wingless insects that superficially resemble a cross between praying mantises and phasmids.”).
Verb
- 1 To fight as entertainment for others.
"When the dance was done there was the cock-fight, or rather a century of cock-fights, to be reckoned with. For two hundred of these luckless creatures 'gladiatored' bravely, while an appreciative audience held matting up to its chin to keep from being bespattered with blood."
- 2 To compete in a public contest.
"I played very well as was evidenced in that I was the only participant in the entire six or seven days of wind gladiatoring who received a standing ovation from the orchestra, no less."
- 3 To debate or argue.
"He did his gladiatoring doubtless without malice, and from a purely sporting instinct — even as Mr. Punch gave the provocation."
- 4 To act aggressively toward others.
"Why, thin, Mister Levi Slam, don't you think now that a volley poured into them haythen mosquitos beyant would put a stop to their gladiatoring a little?"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Putting his trust in God and taking the bull by the horns, the Christian gladiator defeated many adversaries."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gladiator"?
Common synonyms include: athlete, battler, belligerent, belted knight, bickerer, blade.
How do you use "gladiator" in a sentence?
Putting his trust in God and taking the bull by the horns, the Christian gladiator defeated many adversaries.
How do you pronounce "gladiator"?
Pronounced /ˈɡlædiˌeɪtɚ/.
Etymology
From Latin gladiātor, from gladius (“sword”). See also English gladius.