rugby

noun

rug·​by ˈrəg-bē How to pronounce rugby (audio)
often capitalized
: a football game in which play is continuous without time-outs or substitutions, interference and forward passing are not permitted, and kicking, dribbling, lateral passing, and tackling are featured

Examples of rugby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The city also celebrates its patron saint, St. John the Baptist, on June 24 with a game of Calcio Storico, a mix of rugby, soccer, and wrestling, with participants wearing 16th-century costumes. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2024 The venue is Europe’s largest indoor arena and houses the Racing 92 rugby club. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for rugby 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rugby.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Rugby School, Rugby, England

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rugby was in 1864

Dictionary Entries Near rugby

Cite this Entry

“Rugby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rugby. Accessed 18 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

rugby

noun
rug·​by ˈrəg-bē How to pronounce rugby (audio)
often capitalized
: a football game between two teams in which play is continuous and the team that has the ball may run with it, kick it, or pass it sideways or backward but is not allowed to block or make forward passes
Etymology

named for Rugby School in England where the game was first played

Geographical Definition

Rugby

geographical name

Rug·​by ˈrəg-bē How to pronounce Rugby (audio)
town on the Avon River in Warwickshire, central England population 71,000

More from Merriam-Webster on rugby

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