Free-for-all — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl/

Meaning & Definition of Free-for-all

Free-for-all (noun)

  1. 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

Free-for-all (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. freely available for use or participation by all

    "the public library has a free-for-all lending policy"

    similar: open, public, unrestricted
    related: collective, common, communal, shared, accessible, available, free, unregulated, unreserved
    opposite: closed, exclusive, off-limits, private, restricted
    near: limited, inaccessible, unavailable

Free-for-all (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people

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

    similar: affray (chiefly British), brawl, broil, donnybrook, fracas, fray, melee, rough-and-tumble, row, ruckus, ruction
    related: battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, fisticuffs, handgrips, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle, horseplay, roughhousing, altercation, argument, dispute, kickup, quarrel, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle

  2. a state in which everything is out of order

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

    similar: chance-medley, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, mess, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, snake pit, tumble, welter
    related: anarchy, lawlessness, misrule, riot, knot, snarl, tangle, labyrinth, maze, web, maelstrom, storm, bollix, clutter, litter, mishmash, shuffle, hodgepodge, medley, miscellany, morass, motley
    opposite: order, orderliness
    near: method, pattern, plan, system

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Free-for-all

The most common words with a similar meaning to Free-for-all:

Chiefly British: affray
open, public, unrestricted, brawl, broil, donnybrook, fracas, fray, melee, rough-and-tumble, row, ruckus, ruction, chance-medley, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, mess, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, snake pit, tumble, welter

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Free-for-all

Words with the opposite meaning of Free-for-all:

closed, exclusive, off-limits, private, restricted, order, orderliness

Related Words for Free-for-all

collective, common, communal, shared, accessible, available, free, unregulated, unreserved, battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, fisticuffs, handgrips, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle, horseplay, roughhousing, altercation, argument, dispute, kickup, quarrel

Near Antonyms of Free-for-all

limited, inaccessible, unavailable, method, pattern, plan, system

Word Forms of Free-for-all

Derived words: free-for-all (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Free-for-all

First known use: 1874

Frequently Asked Questions about Free-for-all

What does "Free-for-all" mean?

"Free-for-all" means 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. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: 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. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Free-for-all"?

Other words for "Free-for-all" include open, public, unrestricted, affray, brawl, broil, donnybrook and fracas. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Free-for-all" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Free-for-all"?

There are 94 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Free-for-all". Common alternatives include open, public, unrestricted, affray, brawl, broil, donnybrook, fracas, fray and melee.

What is the opposite of "Free-for-all"?

Antonyms of "Free-for-all" include closed, exclusive, off-limits, private, restricted, order and orderliness. Near antonyms include limited, inaccessible, unavailable and method.

How do you use "Free-for-all" in a sentence?

Examples of "Free-for-all" in a sentence: "the public library has a free-for-all lending policy"; "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".

Is "Free-for-all" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Free-for-all" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Free-for-all"?

"Free-for-all" is pronounced /ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl/.

What is the origin of the word "Free-for-all"?

First known use: 1874.