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

Recent Examples on the Web The free-for-all is widely expected to drive commissions down and force many agents out of business. Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Once that fasten seatbelt sign turns off, the aisles can become a free-for-all where passengers try to beat fellow fliers to unload their own luggage from the overhead bins. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 The vote came down to something of a free-for-all, with unusual alliances in support of and opposed to the bill. Annie Karni, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Recent hosts have reflected this division with a kind of a free-for-all negativity. Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2024 But in the hydrological free-for-all, the region’s underground water, a legacy of wetter times, is running out. Fred Pearce, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 The result: an almost free-for-all crossing situation. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 What began as a simple story about this group navigating their wacky community college as rapid-fire pop culture-referencing zingers flew eventually evolved into an anything-goes free-for-all all. Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Some have criticized the free-for-all as publicity stunts that add unnecessary competition. Cade Metz, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024

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

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 29 Mar. 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!