pugilism

American  

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

noun

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

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pugilism British  

/ ˈpjuːdʒɪˌlɪzəm /

noun

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

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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

Explanation

Pugilism is another name for the sport of boxing. If you're a fan of pugilism, you probably enjoy watching people punch each other while wearing boxing gloves. If you're thinking about taking up a new sport and a friend suggests pugilism, she's talking about boxing. If you take up pugilism, you'll learn the footwork to use in a ring, and how to hold your gloves to protect your body and punch your opponent. Pugilism comes from the Latin word pugil, "boxer or fist fighter," a close relative of pugnus, "fist."

Example Sentences

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 • Feb. 19, 2026

But Flint, Mich., native Claressa Shields, for whom pugilism was a passion, entered the ring early: As a teenage phenom, she punched her way to record-setting, Olympic-gold levels.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2024

Kraken winger Jordan Eberle, a former Islanders player not exactly known for pugilism, immediately went at Pulock and the two locked arms for several seconds staring and jawing at one another.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024

You can understand why Peterson sees light in the dark world of pugilism.

From Washington Times • May 25, 2022

I began bombarding the boy with questions concerning pugilism: it seemed so different from the way we fought in the street—it was cleaner.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane