round robin

or round-robin

See synonyms for round robin on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a sequence or series.

  2. a petition, remonstrance, or the like, having the signatures arranged in circular form so as to disguise the order of signing.

  1. a letter, notice, or the like, circulated from person to person in a group, often with individual comments being added by each.

  2. Sports. a tournament in which all of the entrants play each other at least once, failure to win a contest not resulting in elimination.

Origin of round robin

1
First recorded in 1540–50

Words Nearby round robin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use round robin in a sentence

  • Men all in a panic of fear; sent a round robin, asking to have double watch, as they fear to be alone.

    Dracula | Bram Stoker
  • They would be in round-robin communication with each other, yet never out of contact with the other stations.

    Deathworld | Harry Harrison
  • We will take the initiative as soon as the men arrive, and we'll show them that they can't levy tribute on round robin Ranch.

    Old Broadbrim Into the Heart of Australia | Author of "Old Broadbrim"
  • round robin Ranch was the largest and richest sheep ranch in the district.

    Old Broadbrim Into the Heart of Australia | Author of "Old Broadbrim"
  • The men of round robin Ranch had discovered the abduction, and were in pursuit.

    Old Broadbrim Into the Heart of Australia | Author of "Old Broadbrim"

British Dictionary definitions for round robin

round robin

noun
  1. a letter, esp a petition or protest, having the signatures in a circle in order to disguise the order of signing

  2. any letter or petition signed by a number of people

  1. US and Canadian a tournament, as in a competitive game or sport, in which each player plays against every other player

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with round robin

round robin

A petition or other document signed by several persons in sequence, so that no one can tell who was the first to sign it. For example, We decided to send a round robin to management to protest the new rules about work hours. This term originally referred to a grievance presented by seamen to their captain, called round because of the circular sequence of names, but the source of robin has been lost. [Early 1700s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.