free-for-all

noun

ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl 

: a competition, dispute, or fight open to all comers and usually with no rules : brawl

also : a chaotic situation resembling a free-for-all especially in lacking rules or structure

the press conference deteriorated into a free-for-all

free-for-all adjective

Synonyms of free-for-all

• brawl

Examples of free-for-all in a Sentence

during the play-offs, fans of the opposing teams clashed in the streets in several free-for-alls

it was a free-for-all when the doors to the arena opened and the crowd rushed in all at once

Recent Examples on the Web

McMahon has pointed out that America’s wrestling fascination isn’t new—Abraham Lincoln was an accomplished free-for-all wrestler. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

Expect plenty of flying shards and other obstacles to make the free-for-all more frenetic. —ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

Every Friday night from May to November, the Legendary Cyphers crew hosts a hip-hop free-for-all in Union Square Park with rappers of all skill levels taking turns freestyling over a communal beat. —The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026

Founded in February 2021 by Tehranian and Matthew Vernon, Foundation distinguished itself from free-for-all marketplaces like OpenSea through an invite-only model aimed at digital artists and serious collectors. —Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for free-for-all

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Kids Definition

free-for-all

noun

ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl

: a competition or fight open to all comers usually without rules

free-for-all adjective