Synonyms

free kick

American

noun

Soccer.

an unhindered kick of a stationary ball, usually awarded to a player as the result of a foul committed by a player from the opposing team.

free kick British

noun

soccer a place kick awarded for a foul or infringement, either direct, from which a goal may be scored, or indirect, from which the ball must be touched by at least one other player for a goal to be allowed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of free kick

First recorded in 1870–75

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.

See Examples For:

free kick

He ended last season in great form high and wide on the left and looked sharp pre-season scoring a 30-yard direct free kick against Sydney FC.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

He punched away crosses, repelled free kick after free kick and, in one breath-catching moment, spread his limbs to deny Messi in a one-on-one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

Malik Tillman’s exquisitely placed, curving free kick for a goal in the 82nd minute might have been Messi-esque, but the call on Balogun?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

The other night he rolled into the second half of Argentina’s group-stage closer against Jordan and delivered a free kick zapper that sent the Jerrydome into rapture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

The Lightning were awarded a free kick from fifteen yards out.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

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