flag football

American

noun

a form of touch football in which the ball-carrier's progress is stopped when an opponent pulls a flag from the ball-carrier's pocket or belt.

Etymology

Origin of flag football

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss., told this story last year: When the future Chargers wideoout was 6, his mother signed him up for flag football in Texas.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

Major events have been canceled, including an F1 race, a capital markets forum and a flag football event featuring Tom Brady.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Sherman has since been hired as the first flag football coach at Cal Poly.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

The chain’s annual leadership conference became increasingly elaborate, including a 10-year anniversary event in Hawaii where former NFL stars played flag football with staff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

He felt it when he had to stop playing flag football because his body couldn’t take it.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023