round robin

Or round-robin

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.

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

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

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

3. a tournament, as in a competitive game or sport, in which each player plays against every other player

Word History and Origins

Origin of round robin¹

First recorded in 1540–50

Idioms and Phrases

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]

In sports, a tournament in which each player or team plays against all of the others in turn. For example, The club always holds a tennis round robin on the Fourth of July . [Late 1800s]

Related Words

• consultation 
• discussion 
• forum 
• interview 
• meeting 
• seminar 
• symposium 
• talk