field goal

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of field goal¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

They had to settle for a field goal on their final possession after Green Bay's Micah Parsons sacked quarterback Jared Goff on third down.

Read more on Barron's

The Saints are auditioning kickers after third-year player Blake Grupe missed two field goal attempts Sunday during a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, bringing his total of misses this season to eight.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly - with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

Read more on BBC

Instead of kicking a field goal, Kafka opted to go for it, knowing that a touchdown likely would have sealed the game.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Cowboys regained possession and drove for a game-winning field goal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• basket