Out-of-the-way area used for contests (5)
I believe the answer is:
arena
'out-of-the-way area used for contests' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'out-of-the-way area' is the wordplay.
'out of' indicates putting letters inside (some letters on the outside of others).
'the way' becomes 'n' (Compass direction - North).
'n' placed within 'area' is 'ARENA'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for arena that I've seen before include "Part of a stadium" , "Scene of open conflict" , "Field of combat" , "What the Colosseum was" , "place for sporting contest" .)