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Showing results for "fouling"

present participle of foul.

Synonyms

fouling

American

[fou-ling] / ˈfaʊ lɪŋ /

noun

an encrusted deposit, especially on a submerged object, as the hull of a ship.

Other Word Forms

nonfouling

adjective

Etymology

Origin of fouling

1350–1400; Middle English foulinge; see foul, -ing ¹

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.

That’s because a large portion of the pollution fouling waterways comes from these businesses.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Brink was a star at Stanford but became known for her fouling habits.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

The 24-year-old wasn't finished yet and his break into the area ended with Kochalski fouling him, conceding a penalty that Gordon converted with ease.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Cardiff council said park rangers worked closely with its waste enforcement team to address dog fouling, including educating dog walkers where necessary.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

The oarsmen felt ropes of kelp fouling their strokes with each pull.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.