gladiators
n. plural-only B1 Intermediate US //ˈɡɫædiˌeɪtɝz// UK //ɡlˈædɪˌeɪtəz// glad·i·a·tors
n. trained fighters in ancient Rome who fought against each other or wild animals to entertain large crowds.
n. professional combatants in ancient Rome who fought to the death or until submission for public entertainment. Often used in the plural to refer to the class of fighters as a whole.
The gladiators entered the arena to face the crowd.
Historians believe that many gladiators were actually enslaved people or prisoners of war forced into combat.
While popular media often depicts gladiators as solitary heroes, they were typically part of a highly organized school where they received specialized training in specific weaponry and combat styles.
Usage
Plural form of 'gladiator'; takes plural verb agreement.