plural agoras or agorae
ˈa-gə-ˌrē 
-ˌrī
: a gathering place
especially
: the marketplace in ancient Greece
plural agorot
ˌä-gə-ˈrōt
: a monetary subunit of the shekel see shekel at Money Table
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In ancient Greek cities, an agora was an open space serving as an assembly area and a place for commercial, civic, social, and religious activities. Use of the agora varied in different periods. Located in the middle of the city or near the harbor, it was often enclosed by public buildings, covered areas containing shops, and stoas for protection from sun and bad weather. The highest honor for a citizen was to be granted a tomb in the agora.
Examples of agora in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
It is inspired by the practices of deep listening and experiences of togetherness that have been taking place for centuries in this place, from the spiritual traditions of Gnawa music and Sufi invocation to the agora of storytelling that is the square Jemaa el-Fna.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2024
The forest agoras are always located close to rivers and streams.
—Zhengyang Wang, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2024
Over the next five months, the century-old Italian cultural institution is showcasing the work of 400 artists, designers, and architects from 40 countries, in the hopes of becoming a kind of agora for creative thinkers around the world.
—Anne Quito, Quartz, 14 July 2024
But term limits transformed Sacramento not into a Greek-style agora of free men, but a swamp where Republican fortunes have sunk ever since like a mastodon in the La Brea tar pits.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2021
The agora of ancient Athens, where citizens assembled in the shadow of the Acropolis, was an expression of early democracy.
—Peter Schwartzstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 June 2024
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Noun
The festival will feature an agora with a variety of vendors.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
It is inspired by the practices of deep listening and experiences of togetherness that have been taking place for centuries in this place, from the spiritual traditions of Gnawa music and Sufi invocation to the agora of storytelling that is the square Jemaa el-Fna.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2024
The forest agoras are always located close to rivers and streams.
—Zhengyang Wang, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2024
Over the next five months, the century-old Italian cultural institution is showcasing the work of 400 artists, designers, and architects from 40 countries, in the hopes of becoming a kind of agora for creative thinkers around the world.
—Anne Quito, Quartz, 14 July 2024
But term limits transformed Sacramento not into a Greek-style agora of free men, but a swamp where Republican fortunes have sunk ever since like a mastodon in the La Brea tar pits.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2021
The agora of ancient Athens, where citizens assembled in the shadow of the Acropolis, was an expression of early democracy.
—Peter Schwartzstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 June 2024
Dictionary Entries Near agora
Cite this Entry
“Agora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agora. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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