fracas

noun

fra·​cas ˈfrā-kəs  ˈfra- 

British

ˈfra-ˌkä 

plural fracases ˈfrā-kə-səz 

ˈfra-

or British fracas ˈfra-ˌkäz 

: a noisy quarrel : brawl

a drunken fracas

Synonyms of fracas

• skirmish
• clash
• battle
• fight
• scuffle
• dustup

Examples of fracas in a Sentence

the police broke up the fracas in the bar and threw both combatants in the lockup

police preparing for any fracas that might follow the soccer game

Recent Examples on the Web

Nnaji grabbed De’Anthony Melton’s jersey in the fracas. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026

Trump has taken criticism from the right as well as from the center and left over how the Freedom 250 fracas ended up. — Chris Willman, Variety, 2 June 2026

Vance fracas playing out in the Vatican, where a Catholic believer keeps sparring with the Pope. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, 29 Apr. 2026

Steer ended up getting plunked on Thursday, retribution for his Jomboy-worthy fracas. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, din, row, from Italian fracasso, from fracassare to shatter

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fracas

noun

fra·​cas ˈfrā-kəs  ˈfrak-əs 

: a noisy quarrel or fight