Also called rugger. Also called Rugby football. Usually rugby a form of football, played between two teams of 15 members each, that differs from soccer in freedom to carry the ball, block with the hands and arms, and tackle, and is characterized chiefly by continuous action and prohibition against the use of substitute players.
a town in Warwickshire, in central England.
a coeducational preparatory school in Rugby, England, founded in 1567.
Also called: rugger. a form of football played with an oval ball in which the handling and carrying of the ball is permitted
another name for Canadian football
Probably earlier than 1835–40 Rugby for def. 1; Middle English Rokeby, Rookby, Old English Rocheberie, possibly earlier Hrōcaburg, Hrōceburh (unrecorded) “Hroca's fort,” influenced by Old Norse býr “town, settlement”; see also borough ( def. )
How does rugby compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
In rugby, players pass an oval ball and tackle each other to score points, all while wearing minimal protective gear. Rugby is a high-energy sport that originated in England. In rugby, two teams compete to carry, pass, or kick the ball to score points by grounding it in the opponent's goal area or kicking it through their goalposts. Unlike American football, rugby players don't wear much protective gear, which makes the game intense and physical. Rugby is known for its teamwork, strategy, and the camaraderie among players, making it a popular sport worldwide.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As well as being a Rugby World Cup winner in 2021, Tui has Olympic gold and silver medals from the sevens game.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Last year's Lions tour made Australia Rugby $35m in profit, wiping out debts of £17.9m.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
In a brief statement, Rugby League commercial said Super League's 14 clubs had been informed of the offer on Thursday and that details "remain confidential".
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The enhanced contracts were introduced in 2024 as part of the new Professional Game Partnership between the Rugby Football Union and the Prem clubs.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Rugby season started in November, so playing on the team was a year-round commitment since it didn’t end until May.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
Born and brought up in Cardiff's ethnically-eclectic Tiger Bay district, he learned his rugby skills on the streets and with the talent factory-esque Cardiff International Athletic Club.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Boston was among the first players inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 1988 and is one of five rugby league players to be included in a statue at Wembley Stadium.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
The 32-year-old was first-choice stand-off during their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign, but he has been ineligible for selection while playing his club rugby in Japan since.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
The stadium’s size meant it could accommodate state track and field championships, college and pro football, motorcycle racing, roller derby and rugby.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Sevens is a scaled-down version of rugby where there are only seven, as opposed to fifteen, players on a team.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
