free-for-all

noun

: 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

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
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.
There are even corners of the business that believe this content free-for-all actually encourages moviegoing in younger people. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024 But those races were affected by candidates outside the two major parties, with Phil Lyman's write-in gubernatorial campaign absorbing votes on Cox's right, and a partisan free-for-all in the AG race. Erin Alberty, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024 This is Meat Carnival, the all-you-can-eat, free-for-all, for people who love meat and don't mind getting messy. Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 In retrospect, the GameStop free-for-all may have represented the peak of the easy-money IP boom. Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for free-for-all 

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free-for-all was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near free-for-all

Cite this Entry

“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-for-all. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

free-for-all

noun
ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl
: a competition or fight open to all comers usually without rules
free-for-all adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on free-for-all

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!