melee

¹ American  

[mey-ley, mey-ley, mel-ey] / ˈmeɪ leɪ, meɪˈleɪ, ˈmɛl eɪ /

Or mêlée

noun

1. a confused hand-to-hand fight or struggle among several people.

2. confusion; turmoil; jumble.

   the melee of Christmas shopping.

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adjective

1. Games. of or relating to close-range or hand-to-hand combat, especially in video games and role-playing games, but also in some other tabletop games: You can choose any melee weapon type, but most players prefer daggers since the polearm was nerfed in an expansion last year.

   I don't enjoy playing melee jobs like Monk or Warrior—I prefer to snipe from afar with an archer or even a mage.

   You can choose any melee weapon type, but most players prefer daggers since the polearm was nerfed in an expansion last year.

melee ² American  

[mey-ley, mey-ley] / ˈmeɪ leɪ, meɪˈleɪ /

noun

1. a group of diamonds, each weighing less than 0.25 carat.

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melee British  

/ ˈmɛleɪ /

noun

1. a noisy riotous fight or brawl

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Etymology

Origin of melee¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French mêlée “quarrel, mixture”; see origin at medley

Origin of melee²

First recorded in 1910–15; origin uncertain

Explanation

A melee is a noisy free-for-all or rowdy fight — a no holds barred, battle royal, if you will. It's what pro wrestlers engage in every night, and shoppers endure at the toy store every holiday season. If you think melee sounds like a fancy French way to say "crazy bar brawl," you're right: It comes from the French mêlée which means "confused fight or mixture.” What makes a melee different than any other fight is that element of chaos or confusion — so don't jump into a brewing melee unless you're really ready to bring the ruckus.

Example Sentences

From a standoff over a US Secret Service agent’s weapon to a US staffer trampled during a melee, tensions bubbled to the surface throughout Trump's visit to Beijing.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

As the Iranian motorcade left, demonstrators shouted "terrorists!" and surged forward throwing objects, with the police swiftly shoving them -- and the reporters behind -- backwards, as some tumbled over in the melee.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Police failed to bring the situation under control for hours — a melee former Chancellor Gene Block called a “dark chapter” in the university’s history.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2025

Those teams have fallen off in recent years and the expansion of the conference has created a melee of parity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

She heard King Renly declare the Lady Brienne of Tarth the victor of the great melee at Bitterbridge, last mounted of one hundred sixteen knights.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• brawl
• brouhaha
• clash
• fracas
• free-for-all
• ruckus
• scrimmage
• scuffle
• skirmish
• tussle