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
Videos posted on social media after a 3-2 win against LAFC on March 29 show a free-for-all in the parking lot.
—
Mark Zeigler, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
Expectations Are High: The year could turn into a free-for-all, with many teams and drivers expected to challenge for the titles.
—Ian Parkes, New York Times, 22 May 2025
But with Quirk-Silva prevented from running again in 2026 due to term limits, the race has become a free-for-all, especially on the Democratic side, where candidates are expected to spend heavily to stand out in what’s likely to become a crowded primary.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 13 May 2025
The federal government stepped into this free-for-all to regulate it, says Edward Berkowitz, emeritus professor of history at George Washington University.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 13 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-for-all. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
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