football

[foot-bawl]

noun

1. a game in which two opposing teams of 11 players each defend goals at opposite ends of a field having goal posts at each end, with points being scored chiefly by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line and by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent's goal posts.

2. the ball used in this game, an inflated oval with a bladder contained in a casing usually made of leather.

3. Chiefly British.,  Rugby.

4. Chiefly British.,  soccer.

5. something sold at a reduced or special price.

6. any person or thing treated roughly or tossed about.

   They're making a political football of this issue.

7. (initial capital letter),  a briefcase containing the codes and options the president would use to launch a nuclear attack, carried by a military aide and kept available to the president at all times.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.,  to offer for sale at a reduced or special price.

football

/ ˈfʊtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. 1. any of various games played with a round or oval ball and usually based on two teams competing to kick, head, carry, or otherwise propel the ball into each other's goal, territory, etc See association football rugby Australian Rules American football Gaelic football

   2. ( as modifier )

      a football ground

      a football supporter

2. the ball used in any of these games or their variants

3. a problem, issue, etc, that is continually passed from one group or person to another and treated as a pretext for argument instead of being resolved

   he accused the government of using the strike as a political football

Other Word Forms

• footballer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of football¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, football is from Middle English fut ball. See foot, ball ¹

Example Sentences

Should he disappear back into the football punditocracy, O'Neill will bid Celtic farewell with his reputation as a club legend enhanced.

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But one week until college football’s playoff field is set, the conference dominating the conversation is the same one it usually is at this time of year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bonds, who won the coveted "Hammer Of The Year" four times, was handed the Professional Footballers' Association Merit award in 1988, and also received the MBE for services to football in the same year.

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The most important college football story in these parts is about the downtrodden program from Westwood and whether it will leave its dump of a stadium in Pasadena.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

According to football's lawmakers Ifab, a player who is assessed and/or receives treatment on the pitch must then leave the pitch, except when:

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Related Words

• soccer