Definition of "gladiator" []

• A person, usually a professional combatant, a captive, or a slave, trained to entertain the public by engaging in mortal combat with another person or a wild animal in the ancient Roman arena. (noun)
• A person engaged in a controversy or debate, especially in public; a disputant. (noun)
• Sports A professional boxer. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "These women are slowly but surely transforming what I call the gladiator culture that currently prevails in most business organizations."
• "Just a FYI — we have adopted the phrase “The Turtle” for slow, extra heavy armored guys in gladiator fights."
• "Absolutely, Beaverton could host weekly UFC events, where gangs could meet in gladiator matches/knife fights."