# melee

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɛˌleɪ/ · frequency rank #21,859

## Definitions
1. A battle fought at close range, (especially) one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.
2. A loud, confused or tumultuous fight, argument or scrap.
3. Any confused, disorganised, disordered or chaotic situation.
4. Lively contention or debate, skirmish.
5. A cavalry exercise in which two groups of riders try to cut paper plumes off the helmets of their opponents, the contest continuing until no member of one group retains his plume.
6. Small cut and polished gemstones sold in lots.
7. The video game Super Smash Bros. Melee.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French mêlée, from Old French meslee, feminine past participle of mesler (“to mix”), derived from Latin misceō (“mix”). Doublet of medley.

## Easily confused with
- **mile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mile)
- **mere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mere)
- **melt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-melt)
- **meme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-meme)
- **mole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mole)
- **mule** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mule)
- **melo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-melo)
- **miles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-miles)
- **meter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-meter)
- **metre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-metre)
- **merge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-merge)
- **Meyer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-meyer)
- **Miley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-miley)
- **melon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-melon)
- **Myles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-myles)
- **Milne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-milne)
- **mules** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mules)
- **merle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-merle)
- **mille** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mille)
- **Mello** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/melee-vs-mello)

## Common misspellings (6)
`emlee`, `meele`, `mele`, `mellee`, `mleee`, `mmelee`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/melee