pugilism
noun
pu·gi·lism ˈpyü-jə-ˌli-zəm 
: boxing entry 1
pugilistic
ˌpyü-jə-ˈli-stik
adjective 
Did you know?
The sport of boxing had its Olympic initiation more than 2,500 years ago in the 23rd Olympiad of 688 BCE. The ancient Romans adopted the sport from the Greeks, and we adopted the word pugilism from them: the Latin word pugil means "boxer." (The word is related to the Latin pugnus, meaning "fist.") Boxing faded out with the decline of the Roman Empire, but resurged in popularity in the 18th century. By the century's end, pugilist and pugilism were firmly entrenched in the English lexicon, and pugilism now sees additional use in reference to metaphorical sparring, as in a political debate.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The abject failure of the liberal nation-building project in Afghanistan, or the international gridlock in supporting Ukraine’s fledgling democracy against Russia’s pugilism, are just a few recent real-world checks to liberal universalism. 
Krithika Varagur, The New Yorker, 25 May 2022 With that simple statement of faith in a better America, Allen lays out the deeply idealistic roots of his legal pugilism. Steven Gaydos, Variety, 20 Oct. 2021 Its pugilism is polite and thoughtful, but this is a show that very much packs a punch. Steven Litt, cleveland, 17 Oct. 2021 But as Nick Goldberg wrote, Cuomo has a long history of political pugilism. Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2021 It’s made by a Charlestown startup that has a vision of doing for pugilism what Peloton did for cycling. BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2021 Production sources believed the snub was retaliatory, citing Rudin’s pugilism that embroiled the show in multiple legal disputes on its way to New York - a precursor, perhaps, to his downfall this spring. Lee Seymour, Forbes, 11 June 2021 Of course, the Williamsburg Hotel forces no one to bring pugilism to his/her vacation or work time. Michael Alpiner, Forbes, 25 May 2021 His brand of right-wing pugilism is similar to what talk-radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin have been doing for decades. Kevin Roose, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2020 See More
Krithika Varagur, The New Yorker, 25 May 2022 With that simple statement of faith in a better America, Allen lays out the deeply idealistic roots of his legal pugilism. Steven Gaydos, Variety, 20 Oct. 2021 Its pugilism is polite and thoughtful, but this is a show that very much packs a punch. Steven Litt, cleveland, 17 Oct. 2021 But as Nick Goldberg wrote, Cuomo has a long history of political pugilism. Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2021 It’s made by a Charlestown startup that has a vision of doing for pugilism what Peloton did for cycling. BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2021 Production sources believed the snub was retaliatory, citing Rudin’s pugilism that embroiled the show in multiple legal disputes on its way to New York - a precursor, perhaps, to his downfall this spring. Lee Seymour, Forbes, 11 June 2021 Of course, the Williamsburg Hotel forces no one to bring pugilism to his/her vacation or work time. Michael Alpiner, Forbes, 25 May 2021 His brand of right-wing pugilism is similar to what talk-radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin have been doing for decades. Kevin Roose, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin pugil boxer; akin to Latin pugnus fist — more at pungent
First Known Use
1789, in the meaning defined above