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

Tailored to the needs of the country’s ageing population, the development includes senior-friendly public housing, a medical center, elder and childcare facilities, retail spaces, a food court, public plazas and rooftop gardens with an urban farm. —Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Officials also protested the decision by lighting up the plaza in front of City Hall in a glow of pink. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Its door was underneath a sign that advertised a barbershop in the same Tempe plaza. —Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024

Finally, the uppermost Cloud Terrace hosts a landscaped events plaza alongside a ballroom, a function room, planters and reflection pools. —Adam Williams, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 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