plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplä-zə  ˈpla- 

1

a

: a public square in a city or town

b

: an open area usually located near urban buildings and often featuring walkways, trees and shrubs, places to sit, and sometimes shops

2

: a place on a thoroughfare (such as a turnpike) at which all traffic must temporarily stop (as to pay tolls)

3

: an area adjacent to an expressway which has service facilities (such as a restaurant, gas station, and restrooms)

4

: shopping center

Examples of plaza in a Sentence

They put his statue in the town's plaza.

Recent Examples on the Web

The plaza was designed based on what the community wanted, Pérez said, such as a pedestrian bridge, bird and bat houses, and community garden. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024

Local News Progress is picking up on a new mixed-use plaza coming to Delray Beach’s bustling Atlantic Avenue — but unlike traditional plazas, this one will be made up of shipping containers. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024

Williams suggested board investments in affordable housing, retail spaces, business incubators, markets, outdoor plazas and cultural hubs, modern streetcars and safe streets for bikes and pedestrians. —Malachi Barrett, Detroit Free Press, 26 Nov. 2024

By Saturday afternoon, most of the red paint had been power-washed away, but some small remnants of it could still be seen clinging to the edges of tiles at the entrance plaza. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin platea broad street — more at place

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing plaza

• toll plaza

Kids Definition

plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplaz-ə  ˈpläz- 

: a public square in a city or town