rugby

noun

rug·​by ˈrəg-bē How to pronounce rugby (audio)
variants often Rugby
: a football game in which play is continuous without time-outs or substitutions, interference and forward passing are not permitted, and kicking, dribbling, lateral passing, and tackling are featured

Examples of rugby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The campaign video shows the gray denim worn as a matching set, alongside a black varsity jacket with cream sleeves and a black rugby top with a white collar. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Harry and Meghan’s fear comes shortly after the Duke of Sussex attended a rugby match between Leicester and Gloucester. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2026 On this day in 1972, a plane went down carrying a rugby team. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026 The Tragically Hip, who are long-time supporters of women’s sports and fundraisers for the Canadian women’s rugby team. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rugby

Word History

Etymology

Rugby School, Rugby, England

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rugby was in 1864

Browse Nearby Words

rug brick
rugby
Rugby
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rugby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rugby. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rugby

noun
rug·​by ˈrəg-bē How to pronounce rugby (audio)
often capitalized
: a football game between two teams in which play is continuous and the team that has the ball may run with it, kick it, or pass it sideways or backward but is not allowed to block or make forward passes
Etymology

named for Rugby School in England where the game was first played

Geographical Definition

Rugby

geographical name

Rug·​by ˈrəg-bē How to pronounce Rugby (audio)
town on the Avon River in Warwickshire, central England

More from Merriam-Webster on rugby

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rugby

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