field goal

American  

noun

1. Football. a three-point goal made by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball between the opponent's goalposts above the crossbar.

2. Basketball. a goal made while the ball is in play.

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field goal British  

noun

1. basketball a goal scored while the ball is in normal play rather than from a free throw

2. American football a score of three points made by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts above the crossbar

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Etymology

Origin of field goal

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

They forced the game's first three turnovers - two from Stroud fumbles, plus an interception - but the best Pittsburgh could muster on the following possessions was a solitary field goal.

From BBC

It also required a bit of luck—the game would have been tied if Green Bay hadn’t missed both a field goal and an extra point in the fourth quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

The game was 6-3 at half, with the Patriots kicking their second field goal at the end of the second quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

Allen then barged his way over to give sixth-seeded Buffalo a 27-24 lead after Matt Prater's extra point, leaving third seeds Jacksonville with barely a minute to find a game-tying field goal.

From Barron's

But Chicago's defence stepped up in the second half to stifle Love and a field goal made it 21-6 heading into the final quarter.

From BBC

Related Words

• basket