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

There are even corners of the business that believe this content free-for-all actually encourages moviegoing in younger people. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024

But those races were affected by candidates outside the two major parties, with Phil Lyman's write-in gubernatorial campaign absorbing votes on Cox's right, and a partisan free-for-all in the AG race. —Erin Alberty, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024

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

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