affray

1 of 2

noun

af·​fray ə-ˈfrā How to pronounce affray (audio)
Synonyms of affraynext
1
archaic : fray, brawl
2
chiefly British : a fight in a public place that disturbs the peace

affray

2 of 2

verb

affrayed; affraying; affrays

transitive verb

archaic
: startle, frighten

Synonyms of affray

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of affray in a Sentence

Noun the police had to break up an affray that started between fans of the opposing teams
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In July, Brown pleaded guilty to a count of affray at London’s Southwark Crown Court for attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle on the head. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026 Brown’s friend Omololu Akinlolu (who performs as HoodyBaby), was also accused of grievous bodily harm for his involvement in the 2023 attack and pleaded guilty to a count of affray. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
Most recently, in July, Brown pleaded guilty to affray in a 2023 incident at a London nightclub, in which prosecutors said Brown used a glass bottle to hit a man twice on the head. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 With Brown’s change of plea also comes his co-defendant, rapper HoodyBaby, real name Omololu Akinlolu, who is now also pleading guilty to affray. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for affray

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English afray, affray "fright, consternation, assault, brawl," borrowed from Anglo-French effrei, esfrei, affrai, noun derivative of esfreier, effreier, affraier "to frighten, startle" — more at affray entry 2

Verb

Middle English afraien, affraien "to disturb, frighten, attack, brawl," borrowed from Anglo-French esfreier, effreier, (with prefix alternation) affreer, affraier "to frighten, startle," going back to Gallo-Romance *exfridāre, from Latin ex- ex- entry 1 + Gallo-Romance *-fridāre, derivative from Old Low Franconian *friðu "peace, tranquility," going back to Germanic *friþu- (whence Old English friþ "peace, security, protection," Old Saxon friđu, Old High German fridu, Old Norse friðr), derivative, with the suffix *-tu-, of *fri(j)a- free entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of affray was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

affranchise
affray
affreight
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Affray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affray. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

affray

noun
af·​fray
ə-ˈfrā
: a noisy quarrel or fight

Legal Definition

affray

noun
af·​fray ə-ˈfrā How to pronounce affray (audio)
: a fight between two or more people in a public place that disturbs the peace
Etymology

Noun

Middle French affrai, effrai fright, disturbance, from affraier, effreer to terrify

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