battle royale

American  

[bat-l roi-al] / ˈbæt l rɔɪˈæl /

Also last man standing

noun

plural

battle royales, battles royale

1. a fight, often to the death, in which more than two combatants are engaged and the victor is the last surviving participant.

2. battle royal.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to a genre of fiction, television show, movie, or video game that features this kind of elimination fight to the death: a battle royale movie trilogy set in a dystopian future.

   battle royale FPS games;

   a battle royale movie trilogy set in a dystopian future.

Etymology

Origin of battle royale

First recorded in 1830–40; originally a variant spelling of battle royal ( def. )

Example Sentences

This week saw an epic snowstorm on the East Coast, and in New York City, an epic snowball battle royale in Washington Square Park immediately followed.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2026

Adam Ernest Pickard beat seven other comedians in the jokey battle royale at De Montfort Hall on Monday to claim the 2026 title.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

"Battlefield" challenges its rival with smaller multiplayer maps than usual and a "battle royale" mode where players eliminate each other one by one, similar to a popular mode found on "Call of Duty".

From Barron's • Nov. 13, 2025

The battle royale fighting game is much more than a game—Marshmello, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and Eminem have all played virtual concerts there.

From Slate • Dec. 15, 2023

He truly wanted to be in his own bed right now or playing an online round of battle royale with Weslee and Steven.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young