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)
: 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.
Ethan Ampadu, a former team-mate of Adams’ at RB Leipzig, tried to defuse the fracas, but Jayden Bogle came over for a nibble too, before Stach, back on his feet, fired a riposte at the American. Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 What started as a war of words quickly evolved into a bench-clearing fracas. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025 Her willingness, the atmosphere of fracas, her feeling of doom, of having made the wrong decision, had propelled her under the trees. Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 Sergio Busquets, who hit Vargas in the face during the fracas, and Tomas Aviles, who swung at Sounders players, both got bans and fines from the tournament but were not punished by MLS. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 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 7 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

fracas

noun
: a noisy quarrel or fight

More from Merriam-Webster on fracas

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