goalkeeper
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does goalkeeper mean? In sports like soccer (football) and hockey, the goalkeeper is 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). Goalkeeper can be used to refer to the position or the player. A goalkeeper might say they play goalkeeper. A common informal word for goalkeeper is goalie. In some sports, a goalkeeper is called a goaltender. In soccer, the goalkeeper is sometimes called the keeper. Example: When I played soccer, I was the goalkeeper, and I was pretty good, especially because I was quick and had long arms for my age.
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Origin of goalkeeper
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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.
Goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, on the other hand, has been called on to make just five saves.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made a mistake in the 50th minute, failing to stop what appeared to be a simple cross and bobbling the ball.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel was 18 years old and playing for Chivas de Guadalajara’s youth academy the last time Mexico faced South Korea in a World Cup match in 2018.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026
Goalkeeper Zidane - son of France legend Zinedine - got both hands to it, but the strike had too much power.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
Goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's shocking challenge on Patrick Battiston, a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time, the first penalty shootout in World Cup history.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
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.
