I. |frēfə|(r)ȯl adjective
1. : unrestricted as to entries, participants, or users
a free-for-all race
a free-for-all discussion
free-for-all use of patents during wartime
2.
a. : constituting a free-for-all
a free-for-all fight waged for several days over the passage of the law
b. : observing no rules or restrictions
the game was free-for-all with no holds barred
II. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
1. : a discussion, fight, or brawl unrestricted as to participants and usually bound by no special rules
the debate on the controversial bill was a free-for-all
got into a free-for-all in a back alley with some thugs and had a tooth knocked out
2. : an altercation that has got out of control
the moderator at the town meeting raised the controversial issue and in five minutes the discussion became a free-for-all