melee
Melee (noun) means a confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters. Example: “The peaceful protest turned into a melee outside the stadium.”
How to use melee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA chaotic close-quarters brawl, or (in games) fighting hand-to-hand rather than at a distance.
Word forms
meleed past tense, melees plural, melees singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The peaceful protest turned into a _____ outside the stadium.
Etymology
Borrowed from French mêlée, from Old French mesler ("to mix") — related to Latin misceo, "to mix," making it a doublet of "medley."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for melee
See all rhymes for melee →Frequently asked questions
What does “melee” mean?
The word “melee” means a confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters. In plain terms, a chaotic close-quarters brawl, or (in games) fighting hand-to-hand rather than at a distance.
How do you pronounce “melee”?
“Melee” is pronounced MEH-lay (/ˈmeɪˌleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “melee” in a sentence?
Here is “melee” used in a sentence: “The peaceful protest turned into a melee outside the stadium.”
What part of speech is “melee”?
Depending on how it is used, “melee” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “melee” come from?
The word “melee” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French mêlée, from Old French mesler ("to mix") — related to Latin misceo, "to mix," making it a doublet of "medley.".
How many meanings does “melee” have?
“Melee” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters.