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View synonyms for

hooligan

[hoo-li-guhn]

noun

  1. a ruffian or hoodlum.



adjective

  1. of or like hooligans.

hooligan

/ ˈːɪɡə /

noun

  1. slanga rough lawless young person

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • hooliganism noun
  • ˈǴDZԾ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hooligan1

First recorded in 1895–1900; perhaps after the Irish surname Hooligan, but corroborating evidence is lacking
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hooligan1

C19: perhaps variant of Houlihan, Irish surname
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Trump pardoned the hooligans who ransacked the Capitol because he lost the 2020 presidential election.

From

Nawrocki did not deny taking part in hooligan brawls as a younger man, calling them "noble fights".

From

He does not deny taking part in football hooligan brawls, and has called them "noble fights".

From

"I thank the police for their decisive actions against the hooligans in Chelsea and Betis shirts in Wroclaw. We warn you: if necessary, the police will be even more ruthless!"

From

Mr O'Grady said Connolly "wasn't some lager-fuelled hooligan on the streets" and pointed to her being a mother of a 12-year-old daughter, who had also lost a son when he was just 19 months old.

From

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When To Use

doeshooligan mean?

A hooligan is a person who intentionally makes trouble or breaks the law with rowdy, unruly behavior, especially with other hooligans.Hooligan is synonymous with ruffian and hoodlum, but all three words can sound a little too outdated to capture the seriousness of the trouble that such people can cause.Specifically, the term hooligan is applied to members of groups who use sporting events, especially soccer (football) games, as an opportunity to intentionally cause trouble or incite violence. The practice of doing so is called hooliganism.The term is most often used in the plural because it almost always implies that there is a group of troublemakers—it is somewhat uncommon to refer to someone acting alone as a hooligan.Example: The latest match was canceled after hooligans started a brawl outside the stadium.

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