fracas

noun

fra·​cas ˈfrā-kəs How to pronounce fracas (audio) ˈfra- How to pronounce fracas (audio)
British
ˈfra-ˌkä How to pronounce fracas (audio)
plural fracases ˈfrā-kə-səz How to pronounce fracas (audio)
ˈfra-
or British fracas ˈfra-ˌkäz How to pronounce fracas (audio)
Synonyms of fracasnext
: a noisy quarrel : brawl
a drunken fracas

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fracas has even revived the anti-military sentiment at Google, where a tiny fraction of its employees wrote a letter to the company imploring it to make a similar stand. Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026 Jonny Fairplay went from being banned from all official Survivor events (the result of a Vanuatu finale after-party fracas) to back on the show for Micronesia. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026 Mamdani has downplayed the fracas in Washington Square Park as kids simply having some fun. Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026 Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer said a staff member was punched during the on-court fracas. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fracas

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fracas was in 1716

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fracas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fracas. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

fracas

noun
: a noisy quarrel or fight

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