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

The Cowboys also plan to fine their own players who were involved in the fracases. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

The fracas in the video, of course, is a distraction from the music that’s playing in the background, ostensibly a song from the record, which is notable since the announcement didn’t come with a track list or a single. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

South Lake Tahoe Mayor Cody Bass, arrested after a fracas outside a Tahoe-area bar last year, was found guilty of misdemeanor harassment in the September 2025 incident, the Tahoe Daily Tribune reported. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026

In the meantime, Democrats have seemingly resolved at least one 2028 fight, a fracas marked by snarking, backbiting and plenty of acrimony — all the things that make our politics such a grand and glorious endeavor. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 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