end zone

American  

[end zohn] / ˈɛnd ˌzoʊn /

noun

1. Football. an area at each end of the field between the goal line and the end line.

2. Ice Hockey. an area at each end of the rink between the goal line and the closer of the two blue lines.

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end zone British  

noun

1. American football the area behind the goals at each end of the field that the ball must cross for a touchdown to be awarded

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Etymology

Origin of end zone

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

end zone

But Dorsey’s Jesus Jimenez blocks the punt and Henry Badge picks up the bouncing ball in the end zone with no time left for a 19-14 win.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Jason Grant made a diving catch in the end zone with eight seconds left to lift Crenshaw past host Palisades 34-29 on Friday night in a battle of likely City Section Open Division playoff teams.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Imagine an NFL referee walking onto the field with two minutes left in the game to announce that the end zone has moved 10 yards downfield, effective immediately.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

Freeman had hit the turf, corralled a ball that bounced off him twice, sprang to his feet, and sprinted into the end zone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026

Just as his gaze locked on mine, Mike, who had the football at that point, mowed him over to get to the makeshift end zone.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken