| 1. | a fight, argument, contest, etc., open to everyone and usually without rules. |
| 2. | any competition or contested situation that is disordered, impulsive, or out of control: a free-for-all at the buffet table. |
| 3. | Informal. any enterprise or field of endeavor in which various companies, countries, participants, etc., compete without restriction: a price-cutting free-for-all among local stores. |
| 4. | open to everyone. |

| free-for-all (frē'fər-ôl') n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates. See Synonyms at brawl. |