hooligan

/ˈhuləgən/

/ˈhulɪgɪn/

Other forms: hooligans

A hooligan is a rowdy person who causes trouble for others. Hooligans are similar to bullies and thugs.

This is a slightly old-fashioned word for a troublemaker, especially a violent troublemaker. People who start a fight during a sports event are acting like hooligans. In fact, this word is used often for people who start fights at soccer matches, but anyone acting rowdy or obnoxious could be considered a hooligan. Often, hooligans are gang members or criminals. If you see a group of hooligans, it’s probably a good idea to avoid them.

Definitions of hooligan

1. noun

   a cruel and brutal fellow
   synonyms: bully, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, tough, yob, yobbo, yobo

   types:

   bullyboy

   a swaggering tough; usually one acting as an agent of a political faction

   muscle, muscleman

   a bully employed as a thug or bodyguard

   skinhead

   a young person who belongs to a British or American group that shave their heads and gather at rock concerts or engage in white supremacist demonstrations

   plug-ugly, tough guy

   someone who bullies weaker people

   Ted, Teddy boy

   a tough youth of 1950's and 1960's wearing Edwardian style clothes

   type of:

   aggressor, assailant, assaulter, attacker

   someone who attacks