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

College football, basketball, and other sports teams are looking ahead to another season of uncertain rules and a financial free-for-all. — U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026

For spectators piling into the stands, there aren’t the same strict clothing rules that tennis players have to abide by, but that doesn’t mean courtside style is a fashion free-for-all. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 21 Aug. 2026

Wyoming has a single House seat, and the race to replace Hageman has turned into a bit of a free-for-all. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

But along with Dodd’s stewardship of AAU came criticism that the fast-growing organization was becoming a free-for-all. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for free-for-all

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

Kids Definition

free-for-all

noun

ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl

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

free-for-all adjective