hooligan

noun

hoo·​li·​gan ˈhü-li-gən How to pronounce hooligan (audio)
plural hooligans
Synonyms of hooligan
: 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
"At school I ran with the hooligans and tried to act tough."—John Keen
More 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

Synonyms of hooligan

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Examples of hooligan in a Sentence

London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans
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.
But Bruce stands apart from his fellow hooligans. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 And who would be harshing this hooligan’s buzz with a case of reform-minded abduction? — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026 In Western Europe, the sport has long since priced its hooligan problem away, after all. — Leander Schaerlaeckens june 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026 Not only were hooligans running riot every week, but the grounds weren’t fit for purpose, and attendances were locked into a sustained nosedive. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hooligan

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Patrick Hooligan who flourished in 1896 as an Irish hoodlum in Southwark, London

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hooligan was in 1894

Browse Nearby Words

hooley-ann
hooligan
hooliganism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hooligan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hooligan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Etymology

perhaps from the name of Patrick Hooligan, an Irish hoodlum who lived in London around 1898

More from Merriam-Webster on hooligan

Nglish: Translation of hooligan for Spanish Speakers

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