often capitalized
: 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
The dance is known abroad for being performed at matches by New Zealand’s rugby teams, and variations of it are also performed at funerals and formal welcomes.
—
Julia Zhong, NBC news, 5 June 2025
Canada took the silver medal, and the USA’s bronze was the country’s first Olympic medal in rugby overall.
—Andy Frye, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Ilona Maher helped the United States Olympic women’s rugby sevens team to a bronze medal finish during the 2024 Paris Games and raised her profile with hilarious and heartfelt social media posts.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
Almost immediately after the high school rugby season ends in February, the Mustangs 18U team is activated, bringing together boys from a mix of 14 high schools.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rugby
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Julia Zhong, NBC news, 5 June 2025
Canada took the silver medal, and the USA’s bronze was the country’s first Olympic medal in rugby overall.
—Andy Frye, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Ilona Maher helped the United States Olympic women’s rugby sevens team to a bronze medal finish during the 2024 Paris Games and raised her profile with hilarious and heartfelt social media posts.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
Almost immediately after the high school rugby season ends in February, the Mustangs 18U team is activated, bringing together boys from a mix of 14 high schools.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rugby
Cite this Entry
“Rugby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rugby. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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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