ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sevens

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsɛvənz// UK //sˈɛvənz// sev·ens Slang

n. a fast version of rugby played with only seven players on each team. The games are much shorter and more exciting to watch than the standard version.

n. a variant of rugby union or rugby league played with seven players per side instead of fifteen or thirteen. Matches typically consist of two seven-minute halves, emphasizing speed and open-field play.


SIMPLE

We spent the weekend watching the international sevens tournament.

CONTEXTUAL

Because sevens requires constant sprinting across a full-sized pitch, the players must have incredible cardiovascular fitness.

COMPLEX

The inclusion of sevens in the Olympic program has significantly increased the sport's global profile, attracting nations that traditionally lacked the depth for a full fifteen-man squad.

Synonyms
Usage

Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the sport itself; often functions as a modifier in compound nouns like 'sevens player' or 'sevens tournament'.

© 2026 English Reference