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

Seattle trailed 12-7 when quarterback Russell Wilson unleashed a desperate heave to the end zone in the final seconds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

While Seattle moved the ball with some success, the Patriots clamped down and kept them out of the end zone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Bad Bunny scored a touchdown before either team did during Super Bowl LX on Sunday, marching down the field during his halftime show before spiking a football at the end zone.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

About the only thing missing from his stat line was a touchdown -- something he was denied when a 49-yard charge to the end zone was disallowed after a holding call on center Jalen Sundell.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

Calmly, deliberately, he drilled his field goals between the upright posts in the end zone.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor