Standard Lemma guide

dogfight

noun · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdɒɡ.faɪt/
  • General-American: [ˈdɔɡ.fʌɪt]
  • cot-caught-merger: [ˈdɑɡ.fʌɪt]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D AA1 G F AY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A twisting turning battle between two or more military aircraft, especially between fighters.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, government, military, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, politics, war

Examples

  • The two bi-planes swirled around each other like angry wasps in a violent dogfight.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A fight between dogs, especially as part of the blood sport of dogfighting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To engage in a battle between fighter planes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Missiles exhausted, the pilot was forced to close and dogfight with his opponent.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fight, fighting, combat, scrap

5

noun

Meaning 5

an aerial engagement between fighter planes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: battle, conflict, fight, engagement

6

noun

Meaning 6

disorderly fighting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hassle, scuffle, tussle, rough-and-tumble

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fight, fighting, combat, scrap

7

noun

Meaning 7

a fiercely disputed contest

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them
  • a real dogfight for third place
  • a prolonged dogfight over their rival bids for the contract

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: contest, competition

8

verb

Meaning 8

engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: battle, combat

9

verb

Meaning 9

arrange for an illegal dogfight

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stage, arrange

History

Etymology

From dog + fight.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: hondengevecht — fight between dogs
  • Finnish: koiratappelu — fight between dogs
  • French: combat de chiens — fight between dogs
  • German: Hundekampf — fight between dogs
  • Italian: combattimento tra cani — fight between dogs
  • Norwegian: bikkjeslagsmål — fight between dogs
  • Polish: walka psów — fight between dogs
  • Spanish: pelea de perros — fight between dogs
  • Turkish: it dalaşı — fight between dogs
  • Finnish: ilmataistelu — fight between military aircraft
  • Finnish: hävittäjätaistelu — fight between military aircraft
  • Finnish: kaartotaistelu — fight between military aircraft
  • French: combat aérien — fight between military aircraft
  • German: Luftkampf — fight between military aircraft
  • Italian: combattimento aereo — fight between military aircraft
  • Norwegian: nærkamp — fight between military aircraft