Synonyms

pugilism

American

[pyoo-juh-liz-uhm] / ˈpyu dʒəˌlɪz əm /

noun

the art or practice of fighting with the fists; boxing.

pugilism British

/ ˈpjuːdʒɪˌlɪzəm /

noun

the art, practice, or profession of fighting with the fists; boxing

"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

Other Word Forms

pugilist noun
pugilistic adjective
pugilistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of pugilism

1785–95; < Latin pugil boxer (akin to pugnus fist, pugnāre to fight; compare Greek pýx with the fist, pygmḗ boxing) + -ism

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.

After experimenting with mixed martial arts twice - winning two and losing one - Shields has made clear her intention to stick to pugilism for the rest of her career.

From BBC

The iconic Royal Albert Hall has hosted pugilism for over a century, welcomed key political figures and showcased musical superstars.

From BBC

Edwards started boxing aged nine, following his older brother Charlie into the gym, and pugilism quickly consumed his life.

From BBC

His father Stan instructed him to do hours of press-ups from the age of five, introduced him to pugilism aged eight and encouraged him to turn professional after a few senior bouts..

From BBC

But he soon experienced the fickleness of pro pugilism in a significant step-up.

From BBC

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