Hooligan: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who engages in rowdy, disruptive, or violent behavior, especially in the context of sports events.

• The hooligan was arrested for causing a riot at the football match.
• Several hooligans were escorted out of the stadium by security.

Refers to someone who causes problems or disrupts the peace, often in a more general or less violent sense compared to 'hooligan' or 'thug'.

• The teacher kept an eye on the troublemaker during class.
• He's known as the office troublemaker, always starting arguments.

Refers to young people, usually minors, who exhibit antisocial or criminal behavior. Often used in legal or social work contexts.

• The juvenile delinquent was assigned to a rehabilitation program.
• Her parents are worried that she might fall in with delinquents.

Describes someone, often a member of a gang, who engages in violent or criminal activities. Has a very negative connotation.

• The thug threatened the shop owner with a knife.
• People were afraid to walk the streets at night because of the thugs in the area.

Used for people, often young, who engage in rowdy, violent, or destructive behavior, especially in social settings like sporting events or public gatherings.

• The match was interrupted by a group of hooligans causing trouble in the stands.
• Local businesses are worried about hooligans vandalizing their properties during the parade.

Describes a brutal or violent person, often used in literary or historical contexts. It carries a sense of old-fashioned or poetic language.

• The ruffians ambushed travelers in the dead of night.
• He was known as a ruffian, feared by everyone in the village.

British slang term for a young man who is rude, noisy, and badly behaved. It often carries a connotation of lower social class.

• There was a group of yobs shouting and throwing bottles in the street.
• The pub is known for being frequented by yobs looking for trouble.

Indicates a member of a gang who is involved in criminal activities. This term has a stronger association with organized crime.

• The police arrested several hoodlums suspected of being involved in the recent robberies.
• The downtown area has been plagued by hoodlums for years.