football

American  

[foot-bawl] / ˈfʊtˌbɔl /

noun

footballs plural

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

football British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• footballer
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• footballs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of football

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

Explanation

Football is a sport. American football is played with an oval ball and the football players tackle each other. In the rest of the world, football is actually soccer. A football also refers to the ball itself. Football is a game in which players, wearing helmets and protective padding, run while holding the ball and pass by throwing it to teammates, and occasionally try to kick the ball through the goalposts. Players also smash into each other, hence the helmets and padding. Soccer, also known as football, involves players kicking the ball with their feet — only the goalkeeper can touch it with her hands. In both sports, at some point a foot hits the ball.

Example Sentences

I think the club have done everything to try to put him at ease and they gave him money to spend, but I'm not sure he's ever been a natural fit for Scottish football.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

But he added that "these were quickly resolved" and that football tops with the "letter 'V' will soon be available to order online again".

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

Brendan Sorsby won’t be playing football for Texas Tech this fall after all.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

The somewhat tongue-in-cheek concept, where children are given intense football coaching from an early age, exploded on social media following Mbappe's rapid rise.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

An eighth grader in a football jersey lurches against my side, and I mumble an apology a split second after he’s gone.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

• soccer