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

Peter Meagher Former New South Wales detective Peter Meagher was also among those killed in the shooting, Randwick DRUFC, Meagher’s rugby club, confirmed. —Connor Greene, Time, 15 Dec. 2025

Kim Yo-han (Wei) tackled the rugby underdog series The Winning Try. —Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2025

More recently, in 2021, Australian rugby player Blake Ferguson was arrested for drug possession, reportedly cocaine, and was in prison for 29 days, per the Australian Daily Telegraph. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025

Tops consist of unisex cashmere sweaters and sweatshirts, men’s polo rugby shirts and overshirts and women’s mesh bodysuits and half zip polos. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2025

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