Pugilist
noun
A person who fights with fists, a professional boxer.
The pugilist trained rigorously every day to prepare for his upcoming match.
Often appears as...
- professional pugilist
- world class pugilist
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A person who fights with fists, a professional boxer.
The pugilist trained rigorously every day to prepare for his upcoming match.
Often appears as...
- professional pugilist
- world class pugilist
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Roots
Originally referred to ancient fighters, hinting at historical and classical contexts in usage.
He admired the ancient pugilists of Greece, who inspired him to take up boxing.
Pro Tip 2/3Formality Level
More formal than 'boxer', often used in literary or historical discussions.
In the novel, the protagonist was a refined pugilist with a philosophical bent.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Street Fighting
Pugilist implies structured fighting, like boxing, not informal brawls.
Despite the bar fight, he considered himself a pugilist, not a brawler.
Compare with
battleboxerbrawlbruisercombatantfightersluggerwarriorwrestler
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Quote examples
Jeanne Marie Laskas
American Writer
If chronic bashing of the head could destroy a boxer's brain, couldn't it also destroy a football player's brain? Surely someone in the history of football had thought to look for dementia pugilistica. Unlike boxers, football players wear helmets, but a helmet can't fully protect the head from damaging impact.
Quote examples
Bennet Omalu
Nigerian Scientist
What I did when I identified Mike Webster's thing, I showed it to other doctors. We all agreed that this was something new, but we had to give it a name. This was not dementia pugilistica. Maybe we could have called it dementia footballitica!
Quote examples
Chris Eubank Sr.
British Athlete
The reason why I'm such a successful pugilist is that no one knows my limitations better than me. I am quite good, but I am not the best in the world. But I am one of the best and I'm quite content with that.
Quote examples
Richard Dawkins
English Scientist
Christopher Hitchens was a great warrior, a magnificent orator, a pugilist and a gentleman. He was kind, but he took no prisoners when arguing with idiots.
Quote examples
Josh Billings
American Comedian
Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the pugilist: it reduces him to his fighting weight.
Quote examples
Chris Borland
American Athlete
Dementia pugilistica was discovered in 1928... And we still have boxing. Football will continue.
Quote examples
Robert Webb
English Comedian
Ed Miliband is obviously a mild guy. I don't expect him to pretend to be a pugilist.
Quote examples
Jeanne Marie Laskas
American Writer
If chronic bashing of the head could destroy a boxer's brain, couldn't it also destroy a football player's brain? Surely someone in the history of football had thought to look for dementia pugilistica. Unlike boxers, football players wear helmets, but a helmet can't fully protect the head from damaging impact.
Quote examples
Bennet Omalu
Nigerian Scientist
What I did when I identified Mike Webster's thing, I showed it to other doctors. We all agreed that this was something new, but we had to give it a name. This was not dementia pugilistica. Maybe we could have called it dementia footballitica!
Quote examples
Chris Eubank Sr.
British Athlete
The reason why I'm such a successful pugilist is that no one knows my limitations better than me. I am quite good, but I am not the best in the world. But I am one of the best and I'm quite content with that.
Quote examples
Richard Dawkins
English Scientist
Christopher Hitchens was a great warrior, a magnificent orator, a pugilist and a gentleman. He was kind, but he took no prisoners when arguing with idiots.
Quote examples
Josh Billings
American Comedian
Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the pugilist: it reduces him to his fighting weight.
Quote examples
Chris Borland
American Athlete
Dementia pugilistica was discovered in 1928... And we still have boxing. Football will continue.
Quote examples
Robert Webb
English Comedian
Ed Miliband is obviously a mild guy. I don't expect him to pretend to be a pugilist.
Example 1 of 7
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