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
Moynihan majored in history and co-captained the rugby team at Brown University before earning a law degree at the University of Notre Dame.
—
Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Cedric Prizzon, a one-time member of the Paris police and a former rugby league youth international, is also a fathers' rights activist who had been involved in a bitter public custody battle with his former partner.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
As for the future, most panel members were optimistic about the city possibly gaining more events including a college football championship game, the annual Army-Navy football game, NCAA basketball tournaments and even international rugby championships.
—Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Sporty sleeveless tees, colorful denim, and striped rugby sweaters brought a youthful energy that confidently repositioned Versace’s signature glamour through a more relaxed lens.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rugby
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Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Cedric Prizzon, a one-time member of the Paris police and a former rugby league youth international, is also a fathers' rights activist who had been involved in a bitter public custody battle with his former partner.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
As for the future, most panel members were optimistic about the city possibly gaining more events including a college football championship game, the annual Army-Navy football game, NCAA basketball tournaments and even international rugby championships.
—Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Sporty sleeveless tees, colorful denim, and striped rugby sweaters brought a youthful energy that confidently repositioned Versace’s signature glamour through a more relaxed lens.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rugby
Cite this Entry
“Rugby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rugby. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rugby
noun
rug·by
ˈrəg-bē 
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
town on the Avon River in Warwickshire, central England population 71,000
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