colosseum

noun

col·​os·​se·​um ˌkä-lə-ˈsē-əm How to pronounce colosseum (audio)
1
capitalized : an amphitheater built in Rome in the first century a.d.
2

Examples of colosseum in a Sentence

run 10 laps around the colosseum
Recent Examples on the Web Enlarge / Artist's rendition of two Elden Ring teams, The Medium and The Message, battling it out in a colosseum constructed from micro-transactions and overseen by mystical creatures known as Whales. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2024 There, the rapper rode a stripper pole to hell after being stoned in a colosseum full of crumbling stone spectators. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2024 Another photo features the couple posing in front of a colosseum, the next showcases Cassidy in an angelic-like costume presumably during Halloween and another is a solo shot of Cassidy in black glasses laughing in front of a stunning mountain landscape. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023 Horse racing already operates on fragile footing in the bruising colosseum of public opinion. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2023 Tourists have also been fined for carving initials in landmarks, stealing chunks of the colosseum in Rome and making off with everything from mosaics to fingers from the country’s world class monuments and museums. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 25 Mar. 2023 So what’s changing? General Balance Adjustments: An invincibility window while respawning in the colosseum has been added. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 Elden Ring was released February 25th last year, and so far the game has only received patches for balance, and an update enabling better PvP in the game’s colosseums. James Vincent, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2023 The second had Grant’s character overseeing a massive colosseum where the heroes were shown with other groups of questers, trying to make their way through a maze while being pursued by a homicidal jaguar-esque creature. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'colosseum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, neuter of colosseus colossal, from colossus

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colosseum was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near colosseum

Cite this Entry

“Colosseum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colosseum. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

colosseum

noun
col·​os·​se·​um ˌkäl-ə-ˈsē-əm How to pronounce colosseum (audio)
1
capitalized : an outdoor arena built in Rome in the first century a.d.
2
Etymology

Latin, from colosseus "colossal," derived from colossus "colossus"

More from Merriam-Webster on colosseum

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