All Blacks

British

plural noun

the international Rugby Union football team of New Zealand

"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

Etymology

Origin of All Blacks

so named because of the players' black playing strip

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Retired Wallabies prop Slipper became the first Australian to bring up the 200-game milestone and he is close to passing the all-time record, held by former Crusaders and All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

That mark is held by retired All Blacks great Wyatt Crockett.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

But Ford, who 15 months ago missed a late drop-goal to beat the All Blacks, had not given himself enough space.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Victory over New Zealand was the centrepiece of England's autumn, but the subsequent sacking of Scott Robertson suggested that the All Blacks were not taking up tools with their usual gusto.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Stubbly, grim, brown leather jacket, All Blacks rugby shirt.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023