dogfight

noun

dog·​fight ˈdȯg-ˌfīt 

1

: a fight between dogs

broadly : a fiercely disputed contest

2

: a fight between two or more fighter planes usually at close quarters

dogfight intransitive verb

dogfighter

ˈdȯg-ˌfī-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• ball game
• battle
• combat
• competition
• conflict
• confrontation
• contention
• contest
• duel
• face-off
• grapple
• match
• rivalry
• strife
• struggle
• sweepstakes
• sweep-stake
• tug-of-war
• war
• warfare

Examples of dogfight in a Sentence

He was shot down in a dogfight over enemy territory.

The election has turned into a real dogfight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two Air Force fighter jets recently squared off in a dogfight in California. —Tara Copp, Fortune, 12 May 2024

But this Washington dogfight has been felt on Ukrainian battlefields for months. —Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dogfight

noun

dog·​fight -ˌfīt 

: a fight at close range between fighter planes

dogfight verb

dogfighter

-ˌfīt-ər 

noun