football

[foot-bawl]

noun

1. a game in which two opposing teams of 11 players each defend goals at opposite ends of a field having goal posts at each end, with points being scored chiefly by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line and by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent's goal posts.

2. the ball used in this game, an inflated oval with a bladder contained in a casing usually made of leather.

3. Chiefly British.,  Rugby.

4. Chiefly British.,  soccer.

5. something sold at a reduced or special price.

6. any person or thing treated roughly or tossed about.

   They're making a political football of this issue.

7. (initial capital letter),  a briefcase containing the codes and options the president would use to launch a nuclear attack, carried by a military aide and kept available to the president at all times.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.,  to offer for sale at a reduced or special price.

football

/ ˈfʊtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. 1. any of various games played with a round or oval ball and usually based on two teams competing to kick, head, carry, or otherwise propel the ball into each other's goal, territory, etc See association football rugby Australian Rules American football Gaelic football

   2. ( as modifier )

      a football ground

      a football supporter

2. the ball used in any of these games or their variants

3. a problem, issue, etc, that is continually passed from one group or person to another and treated as a pretext for argument instead of being resolved

   he accused the government of using the strike as a political football

Other Word Forms

• footballer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of football¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, football is from Middle English fut ball. See foot, ball ¹

Example Sentences

Private equity firm Silver Lake, which has investments in companies including Manchester City football club owners City Football Group, was revealed to also be involved in the deal.

From BBC

National college football writers and other pundits tweeted about the athletic department’s massive deficit, meager NIL resources and failed leadership.

From Los Angeles Times

A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 4 of the 2025 season.

From Los Angeles Times

The Chargers are still figuring out how to run the football — a goal that will only get tougher — but they have successfully run something more important.

From Los Angeles Times

After more than a month of practices with no games, Verbum Dei football players finally got to show what they had learned under first-year coach Gary Parks on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• soccer