rugby

noun

rug·​by ˈrəg-bē 

variants often Rugby

: a football game in which play is continuous without time-outs or substitutions, interference and forward passing are not permitted, and kicking, dribbling, lateral passing, and tackling are featured

Examples of rugby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other sports like rugby, basketball, cycling and tennis also are popular. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

The Princess of Wales brought back the black leather style on Thursday for a visit to The Treehouse children’s hospice in Ipswich, England, less than a month after wearing the same pair to a rugby engagement in Leeds. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

The Atlanta Bucks meet every week to practice rugby and build community. — Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Harry and Meghan’s fear comes shortly after the Duke of Sussex attended a rugby match between Leicester and Gloucester. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Rugby School, Rugby, England

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rugby

noun

rug·​by ˈrəg-bē 

often capitalized

: a football game between two teams in which play is continuous and the team that has the ball may run with it, kick it, or pass it sideways or backward but is not allowed to block or make forward passes

Etymology

named for Rugby School in England where the game was first played

Geographical Definition

Rugby

geographical name

Rug·​by ˈrəg-bē 

town on the Avon River in Warwickshire, central England