affray

1 of 2

noun

af·​fray ə-ˈfrā 

1

archaic : fray, brawl

2

chiefly British : a fight in a public place that disturbs the peace

affray

2 of 2

verb

affrayed; affraying; affrays

transitive verb

archaic

: startle, frighten

Synonyms of affray

Noun

• brawl
• altercation

Examples of affray in a Sentence

Noun

the police had to break up an affray that started between fans of the opposing teams

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Washington was charged with intoxicated and disruptive behavior and simple affray. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 28 Nov. 2025

Doyle, a former Royal Marine, pleaded guilty to charges including dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent as well as three counts of wounding with intent. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Paul Doyle admitted to dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent, the BBC reports. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2025

The eight suspects range in age from 17 to 40, and the charges include rioting, committing an affray, trespassing and disorderly conduct. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English afray, affray "fright, consternation, assault, brawl," borrowed from Anglo-French effrei, esfrei, affrai, noun derivative of esfreier, effreier, affraier "to frighten, startle" — more at affray entry 2

Verb

Middle English afraien, affraien "to disturb, frighten, attack, brawl," borrowed from Anglo-French esfreier, effreier, (with prefix alternation) affreer, affraier "to frighten, startle," going back to Gallo-Romance *exfridāre, from Latin ex- ex- entry 1 + Gallo-Romance *-fridāre, derivative from Old Low Franconian *friðu "peace, tranquility," going back to Germanic *friþu- (whence Old English friþ "peace, security, protection," Old Saxon friđu, Old High German fridu, Old Norse friðr), derivative, with the suffix *-tu-, of *fri(j)a- free entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

affray

noun

af·​fray

ə-ˈfrā

: a noisy quarrel or fight

Legal Definition

affray

noun

af·​fray ə-ˈfrā 

: a fight between two or more people in a public place that disturbs the peace

Etymology

Noun

Middle French affrai, effrai fright, disturbance, from affraier, effreer to terrify