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

Former rugby player Danny Cipriani proposed to Days of Our Lives actress AnnaLynne McCord on Christmas Day 2025, but the couple shared the news exclusively with PEOPLE in April 2026. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026

My brother is a rugby player now, which is really cool. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 26 June 2026

They will be launched after the third of three rugby matches in the stadium. — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Others tried flag football, rugby, track and field or para-swimming. — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 25 June 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 population 71,000