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affray

Noun

IPA /əˈfreɪ/

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Meaning in plain English

A public fight or violent disturbance that frightens or disrupts other people.

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Pronunciation

affray/əˈfreɪ/

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A violent fight breaks out in public
Passers-by are frightened
The public peace is disturbed

An affray is a public fight or violent disturbance.

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The news report described an affray outside the station.
The journalism students compared two reports about the same affray.

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The news report described an ________ outside the station.

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affray — A public fight or violent disturbance that frightens or disrupts other people.

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A public fight or violent disturbance that frightens or disrupts other people.

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Word origin

From Anglo-Norman French, related to afrayer, meaning disturb or startle.

Did you know?

Affray appears in legal and news language, including the expression charged with affray.

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