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Definition of fisticuffs

fisticuffs

/ˈfɪs.tɪ.kʌfs/
fis · ti · cuffs
Plural:fisticuffs
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fisticuffs Lexical Profile

fisticuffs Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Fighting with the fists; a fistfight or pugilistic encounter.

Example

"The heated debate between the two rival politicians nearly descended into fisticuffs on the assembly floor."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

"Fisticuffs" is a pluralia tantum noun (always plural in form, though it can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the act of fighting or the individual blows are emphasized) and is today almost exclusively used in a humorous, dated, or mock-formal register, especially in the phrase "come to fisticuffs."

• Nearby Words

fistfight
fistful
fisticuff
fisticuffs
fisting
fistlike
fit

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 17th century, formed as a compound of the obsolete adjective "fisty" (meaning relating to the fists, from Old English "fyst") and "cuff" (a blow with the hand).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fisticuffs. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fisticuffs
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