hooligan
noun
hoo·li·gan
ˈhü-li-gən 
plural hooligans
: a usually young man who engages in rowdy or violent behavior especially as part of a group or gang : ruffian, hoodlum
We had four great beefy hooligans on to us when Linton got his tooth knocked out.—
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse"At school I ran with the hooligans and tried to act tough."—John Keen
John KeenMore recently the tabloid press dubbed English football hooligans "lager louts" as if it was the fizzy beer that was the problem rather than that many supporters were more interested in fighting than football.—Henry Jeffreys
Henry JeffreysSynonyms
Examples of hooligan in a Sentence
London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans
Recent Examples on the Web
Ticking off the Traction Control also allowed my inner hooligan to loft the front wheel a wee bit in first and second gear as the Kawasaki quickly built revs.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Gatherings of white men in particular have historically cultivated an ominous vibe: think the Unite the Right rally, many European land wars, English football hooligans, or Congress.
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 30 July 2024
The 1989 Hillsborough disaster, Britain's deadliest sports tragedy, sparked a rush to judgment: football hooligans, the scourge of English sports in the 1980s, were blamed.
—Joshua Dupuy, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Onstage, Idles felt like a powder keg ready to blow, turning a Queens audience into socially conscious soccer hooligans for the night.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
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William Roberson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Gatherings of white men in particular have historically cultivated an ominous vibe: think the Unite the Right rally, many European land wars, English football hooligans, or Congress.
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 30 July 2024
The 1989 Hillsborough disaster, Britain's deadliest sports tragedy, sparked a rush to judgment: football hooligans, the scourge of English sports in the 1980s, were blamed.
—Joshua Dupuy, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Onstage, Idles felt like a powder keg ready to blow, turning a Queens audience into socially conscious soccer hooligans for the night.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hooligan
Dictionary Entries Near hooligan
Cite this Entry
“Hooligan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hooligan. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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hooligan
noun
hoo·li·gan
ˈhü-li-gən
Etymology
perhaps from the name of Patrick Hooligan, an Irish hoodlum who lived in London around 1898
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