free-for-all

noun

ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl 

: a competition, dispute, or fight open to all comers and usually with no rules : brawl

also : a chaotic situation resembling a free-for-all especially in lacking rules or structure

the press conference deteriorated into a free-for-all

free-for-all adjective

Synonyms

• affray [chiefly British]
• brawl
• broil
• donnybrook
• fracas
• fray
• melee
• mêlée
• rough-and-tumble
• row
• ruckus
• ruction

Examples of free-for-all in a Sentence

during the play-offs, fans of the opposing teams clashed in the streets in several free-for-alls

it was a free-for-all when the doors to the arena opened and the crowd rushed in all at once

Recent Examples on the Web

This is Meat Carnival, the all-you-can-eat, free-for-all, for people who love meat and don't mind getting messy. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

In retrospect, the GameStop free-for-all may have represented the peak of the easy-money IP boom. —Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

Among the top three passenger cars sold in California, the Tesla Model 3 has fallen to third place, behind the Honda Civic and the Toyota Camry, potentially opening the door for a full-throttle free-for-all among automotive brands. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024

The Constitution is for a Limited Government of Enumerated Powers, not a free-for-all of handouts and entitlements leading to uncontrollable deficits. —Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

free-for-all

noun

ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl

: a competition or fight open to all comers usually without rules

free-for-all adjective