ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rugby

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɹəɡbi// UK //ɹˈʌɡbi// rug·by General-service

n. a team sport played with an oval ball that players can carry, kick, and pass to each other. You score points by touching the ball down behind the opponent's goal line or kicking it through the posts.

n. a team sport played with an ovoid ball, characterised by physical contact and the use of both hands and feet to move the ball toward the opposing goal. The two main variants are Union and League, which differ in player count and specific rules of play.


SIMPLE

He plays rugby for a local club every Saturday.

CONTEXTUAL

The school decided to introduce rugby to the physical education curriculum to encourage teamwork and physical fitness among the students.

COMPLEX

While soccer dominates global viewership, rugby maintains a fervent following in nations where its unique blend of tactical kicking and brute physical strength is deeply woven into the local sporting culture.

Synonyms
Origin

From earlier Rokeby (rook + -by), from Middle English Rokebi, an alteration (using the Middle English bi (“village, town”), from Old Norse býr (“town, settlement”)) of Old English Rocheberie, possibly from earlier Old English *Hrōceburh (literally “rook-fort, Rookbury”).

Usage

When referring to the sport itself, it is uncountable; when referring to a specific match, it is typically used as an attributive noun, as in 'a rugby match'.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference