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Definition of hooliganism

hooliganism

/ˈhuː.lɪ.ɡə.nɪ.zəm/
hoo · li · gan · ism
Adjective:hooliganistic
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hooliganism Lexical Profile

hooliganism Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Disruptive, rowdy, or violent behavior by young troublemakers, especially in crowds or at sporting events.

Example

"Local authorities increased security around the stadium to prevent outbreaks of football hooliganism after the championship match."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hooliganism
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hooliganism

• Nearby Words

hookworm
hooky
hooligan
hooliganism
hoop
hoop snake
hooper

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in late 19th-century London from the word 'hooligan', widely believed to derive from the surname Houlihan, referring either to a fictional Irish family in popular music-hall songs of the 1890s or a real gang leader named Patrick Hoolihan.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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