If you describe people, especially young people, as hooligans, you are critical of them because they behave in a noisy and violent way in a public place.
[disapproval]
...riots involving football hooligans.
Synonyms: delinquent, tough, vandal, casual More Synonyms of hooligan
hooligan in British English
(ˈhuːlɪɡən)
noun
slang
a rough lawless young person
Derived forms
hooliganism (ˈhooliganism)
noun
Word origin
C19: perhaps variant of Houlihan, Irish surname
hooligan in American English
(ˈhulɪgən)
noun
Slang
a hoodlum, esp. a young one
Derived forms
hooliganism (ˈhooliganˌism)
noun
Word origin
< ? Hooligan (or Houlihan), name of an Irish family in Southwark, London
Examples of 'hooligan' in a sentence
hooligan
The trouble is each one of these hooligans knows they won't receive a harsh punishment because of their age.
The Sun (2016)
We would soon see a tougher line being taken on young hooligans.
The Sun (2008)
The power is similar to that available against football hooligans.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Others dislike us because of our football hooligans.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If football hooligans are banned for violence, then why not players?
The Sun (2009)
The same goes for known football hooligans before, during and after matches.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So we can all rejoice, apart from the raven who lost his dinner to a young hooligan.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They were like football hooligans.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He thinks we're thick northerners because he wanted to write for the theatre when he was sixteen and we were football hooligans.
John Harris THE LAST PARTY: Britpop, Blair and the demise of English rock (2003)
Your average football hooligan's brain is much smaller than that of a Neanderthal man.
The Sun (2009)
The gang went berserk at the undercover ace over a TV expose of Chelsea soccer hooligans that got one they knew jailed.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
hooligan
British English: hooligan NOUN
If you describe people, especially young people, as hooligans, you are critical of them because they behave in a noisy and violent way in a public place.
...riots involving football hooligans.
American English: hooligan
Brazilian Portuguese: desordeiro
Chinese: 小流氓
European Spanish: hooligan
French: hooligan
German: Rowdy
Italian: teppista
Japanese: フーリガン
Korean: 공동 장소에서 난동을 부리는 젊은사람들의 무리 훌리건
European Portuguese: desordeiro
Latin American Spanish: hooligan
Chinese translation of 'hooligan'
hooligan
(ˈhuːlɪɡən)
n(c)
流氓 (liúmáng) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
a young person who behaves in a noisy and violent way in public
riots involving football hooligans
Synonyms
delinquent
tough
Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
vandal
The phone box had been destroyed by vandals.
casual
ned (Scottish, slang)
rowdy
The owner kept a baseball bat to deal with rowdies.
hoon (Australian, New Zealand)
hoodlum mainly US)
a small-time hoodlum attempting to go straight
ruffian
gangs of ruffians who lurk about
lager lout
boot boy
yob or yobbo (British, slang)
cougan (Australian, slang)
scozza (Australian, slang)
bogan (Australian, slang)
hoodie (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hoodlum
Definition
a violent criminal, esp. one who is a member of a gang
a small-time hoodlum attempting to go straight
Synonyms
thug,
hooligan,
ruffian,
vandal,
delinquent,
rowdy,
lout,
tearaway (British),
hoon (Australian, New Zealand),
bruiser (informal),
boot boy,
yob or yobbo (British, informal),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang)
in the sense of rowdy
Definition
a person like this
The owner kept a baseball bat to deal with rowdies.