round robin

noun
1.
a sequence or series.
2.
a petition, remonstrance, or the like, having the signatures arranged in circular form so as to disguise the order of signing.
3.
a letter, notice, or the like, circulated from person to person in a group, often with individual comments being added by each.
4.
Sports. a tournament in which all of the entrants play each other at least once, failure to win a contest not resulting in elimination.
Also, round-robin.
Origin
1540-50
Examples from the web for round robin
  • They'll probably have a fixed list of questions to ask, and either one will ask the questions or they'll do a round robin.
  • The league will be a round robin format with a tournament at the end of the regular season.
  • The list of round robin materials has been compiled.
  • The format will be a double round robin, with a single-elimination playoff at the end.
British Dictionary definitions for round robin

round robin

noun
1.
a letter, esp a petition or protest, having the signatures in a circle in order to disguise the order of signing
2.
any letter or petition signed by a number of people
3.
(US & Canadian) a tournament, as in a competitive game or sport, in which each player plays against every other player
Word Origin and History for round robin
n.

"petition or complaint signed in a circle to disguise the order in which names were affixed and prevent ringleaders from being identified," 1730, originally in reference to sailors and frequently identified as a nautical term. As a kind of tournament in which each player plays the others, it is recorded from 1895.

Idioms and Phrases with round robin

round robin

.
A petition or other document signed by several persons in sequence, so that no one can tell who was the first to sign it. For example, We decided to send a round robin to management to protest the new rules about work hours. This term originally referred to a grievance presented by seamen to their captain, called round because of the circular sequence of names, but the source of robin has been lost. [ Early 1700s ]
.
In sports, a tournament in which each player or team plays against all of the others in turn. For example, The club always holds a tennis round robin on the Fourth of July. [ Late 1800s ]