goalie

American  

[goh-lee] / ˈgoʊ li /

noun

1. a goalkeeper.

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goalie British  

/ ˈɡəʊlɪ /

noun

1. informal short for goalkeeper

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Usage

What does goalie mean? In sports like soccer (football) and hockey, goalie is an informal name for the goalkeeper, the player positioned in front of the goal whose job is to prevent the ball or puck from entering it (or crossing the goal line). Goalie can be used to refer to the position or the player. A goalie might say they play goalie. The position is usually officially called goalkeeper or goaltender, but goalie is very commonly used, especially in youth sports. In soccer, the goalkeeper is also sometimes called the keeper. Example: When I played soccer, I was the goalie, and I was pretty good, especially because I was quick and had long arms for my age.

Etymology

Origin of goalie

First recorded in 1920–25; goal + -ie

Explanation

In sports, the goalie is the player whose main job is to stop the ball or puck when the opposing team attempts to score a point. A soccer goalie is the only player allowed to grab the ball with her hands. Goalie is short for goalkeeper or goaltender. Soccer (or association football), hockey, water polo, and lacrosse are just some of the sports that use a goalie to intercept shots into the goal. Ice hockey and lacrosse goalies wear protective clothing and a face mask, while a soccer goalie's uniform is usually a distinctive color, different from other players.

Example Sentences

Mark Stone had an opportunity to score on the power play with less than nine minutes left, but Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made a spectacular save to keep it a one-goal score.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Roy got that one back for Colorado 3:13 into the final period, banging the rebound of an Artturi Lehkonen shot between the pads of Kings goalie Anton Forsberg.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

The first came when Byfield charged Wedgewood on a breakaway, only to have the goalie stop his wrister from in close.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

At the 2014 Sochi Games, Quick went 3-2 as the starting goalie for the fourth-place U.S. team.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Moments later, Christian dribbled into the box and faked to his left, a move that left the North Atlanta goalie tangled in his own limbs, before shooting right: another goal.

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