colosseum
noun
col·os·se·um
ˌkä-lə-ˈsē-əm 
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
One of the largest Nazi projects still standing, the sprawling, colosseum-style compound was immortalized in Leni Riefenstahl’s propaganda films.
—
Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Visits include the Kerkennah Islands and the largest colosseum in North Africa, with a total solar eclipse visible for 5 minutes, 40 seconds from Chaffar Beach.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2025
Earlier this month, an American tourist had to undergo emergency surgery after he was impaled on a spire after trying to climb over a fence surrounding the ancient Roman colosseum.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
But this was Turkey, with its rich layers of history, and there were colosseums and temples to Apollo and Artemis to visit — and more wines to drink — in the week to come.
—Betsy Andrews, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2025
The instrumentalist compared the feeling of stepping foot into those stadiums every weekend to a gladiator making his way into a colosseum.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
The colosseum flooding alone would earn it a top spot among contenders for the remaining seats at the awards table.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
However, Lucius is brought back to the colosseum after being captured in North Africa.
—Malik Peay, Essence, 3 Dec. 2024
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Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Visits include the Kerkennah Islands and the largest colosseum in North Africa, with a total solar eclipse visible for 5 minutes, 40 seconds from Chaffar Beach.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2025
Earlier this month, an American tourist had to undergo emergency surgery after he was impaled on a spire after trying to climb over a fence surrounding the ancient Roman colosseum.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
But this was Turkey, with its rich layers of history, and there were colosseums and temples to Apollo and Artemis to visit — and more wines to drink — in the week to come.
—Betsy Andrews, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2025
The instrumentalist compared the feeling of stepping foot into those stadiums every weekend to a gladiator making his way into a colosseum.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
The colosseum flooding alone would earn it a top spot among contenders for the remaining seats at the awards table.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
However, Lucius is brought back to the colosseum after being captured in North Africa.
—Malik Peay, Essence, 3 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Colosseum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colosseum. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
colosseum
noun
col·os·se·um
ˌkäl-ə-ˈsē-əm
1
capitalized
: an outdoor arena built in Rome in the first century a.d.
2
: coliseum
Etymology
Latin, from colosseus "colossal," derived from colossus "colossus"
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