pugilism

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/ˈpjuːdʒɪlɪzəm//ˈpjuːdʒəlɪzəm/

noun

Fighting with fists.

Similar
boxingfisticuffs
OriginLatin pugil →
First used 1791Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounpugilism (countable and uncountable, plural pugilisms)

plural pugilisms

  1. countableuncountableFighting with fists.First known use 1791

    Synonyms: boxing

Synonyms & antonyms

nounFighting with fists.

Similar
boxing

More synonyms by meaning

nounfighting with the fists

Similar
boxingfisticuffs
Broader
contact sport
Also see
boxingfisticuffs

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinpugil“fist”
  2. Englishpugilism

From Latin pugil (“fist”) + -ism, related to pugnus (“fist”), from Proto-Indo-European roots. Compare contemporary pugilist (“boxer”), 1790.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pugilism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pugilism

MLA

“pugilism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pugilism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pugilism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pugilism.

Source: pugilism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.