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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of field goal

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

In Super Bowl LX, Seattle’s Jason Myers kicked five field goals and scored 17 points in a 29-13 win over New England.

From Los Angeles Times

The Trojans went six straight minutes in the first without a field goal, then gave up an 8-0 run to Indiana in the final 1:22 of the quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

He was mostly a sous chef for Seattle kicker Jason Myers, who booted a record five field goals.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a first half in which offensive fireworks were conspicuously absent, Walker delivered runs of 29 and 30 yards in the course of three plays to set up Seattle's second field goal.

From Barron's

Kicker Jason Myers was responsible for all of the scoring in the first three quarters, connecting on four field goals for a 12-0 Seattle lead.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• basket