field goal
- Football. a three-point goal made by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball between the opponent's goalposts above the crossbar.
- Basketball. a goal made while the ball is in play.
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Origin of field goal
First recorded in 1890–95
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for field goal
Contemporary Examples
When he graduated, he was ranked first in school history for field-goal percentage and fifth in blocked shots.
Republicans eeked out a couple of field-goal wins while Democrats have won by touchdowns.
It's the MathNovember 9, 2012
Historical Examples
For there was hardly a question but that Brimfield was to try a field-goal this time.
Left Tackle ThayerRalph Henry Barbour
Kenwood might tie the game now if she chose to try a field-goal, but Kenwood wanted a victory.
Center Rush RowlandRalph Henry Barbour
Ballard, firmly believing Hicks would try a field-goal, had been taken completely off guard.
T. Haviland Hicks SeniorJ. Raymond Elderdice
Then the 'varsity substitutes and the second team faced each other for fifteen minutes and the second scored a field-goal.
Left End EdwardsRalph Henry Barbour
The angle, however, was difficult and few looked for a bona fide attempt at a field-goal.
Quarter-Back BatesRalph Henry Barbour
field goal
- basketball a goal scored while the ball is in normal play rather than from a free throw
- American football a score of three points made by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts above the crossbar
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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