ruffian

noun

ruf·​fi·​an ˈrə-fē-ən How to pronounce ruffian (audio)
: a brutal person : bully
ruffian adjective
ruffianism noun
ruffianly adjective

Examples of ruffian in a Sentence

a gang of ruffians preying upon people who ventured into that section of town
Recent Examples on the Web And America’s democratic allies, who well understand the importance of U.S. democratic leadership to the global cause of freedom, have been badly shaken by the images of ruffians rampaging through the world’s most powerful democratic assembly Get unlimited access to all Foreign Affairs. Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2021 He was also occasionally harassed on the property; some local ruffians tried to break down its door, and others once beat him and left him for dead. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 View Photos From the June 1997 issue of Car and Driver. Don't look now, but the wood-and-leather-lined halls of luxury sport-ute-dom have been invaded by a ruffian. Frank Markus, Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2023 Chaplin was sharing a table with Russian aristocrats and violinist Jascha Heifetz and saw Julian and his buddies kick over a lamp and generally behave like ruffians. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023 After it is stolen by two ruffians, a distraught Shakespeare scholar turns to Holmes for help. Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 13 July 2023 Yes, in the now richly classic cowboy movie The Western Code, which was released in 1932, an ex-lawman hero rides into town and confronts the local ruffian. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 May 2022 His train of thought reminds the reader that Cromwell is also his own author, having fashioned a high minister out of the unlikely material of a ruffian from the streets. Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2020 In the chaos, the young ruffians pilfered freely and made away with a small fortune. Sylvia Poggioli, The New York Review of Books, 29 Mar. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ruffian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French rufian

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ruffian was circa 1525

Dictionary Entries Near ruffian

Cite this Entry

“Ruffian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruffian. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ruffian

noun
ruf·​fi·​an ˈrəf-ē-ən How to pronounce ruffian (audio)
: a brutal person : bully
ruffian adjective
ruffianly adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on ruffian

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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