noun
melee
MEH-lay
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.”
noun
1
A confused, chaotic fight or struggle involving a group of people at close quarters.
"The peaceful protest turned into a melee outside the stadium."
adjective
1
Describing close-range combat or a weapon used for it, as opposed to ranged attacks.
"A melee weapon is used to attack a target within 5 feet of you, whereas a ranged weapon is used to attack a target at a distance."
— Wizards of the Coast, Basic Rules for Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e) (2018)
"The character prefers melee weapons like swords over guns."
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.
Common pairings
melee combat
melee weapon
general melee
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Word forms
- Plural
- melees
- Third person singular
- melees
- Past tense
- meleed
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
View more →
scrimmage
battle royal
Related words
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.
