kickoff

American  

[kik-awf, -of] / ˈkɪkˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or kick-off

noun

• kickoffs
  plural

1. Football. a place kick or a drop kick from the 40-yard line of the team kicking at the beginning of the first and third periods or after the team kicking has scored a touchdown or field goal.

2. Soccer. a kick that puts a stationary ball into play from the center line of the field at the start of a quarter or after a goal has been scored.

3. the initial stage of something; start; beginning.

   the campaign kickoff.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• kickoffs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of kickoff

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase kick off

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kickoff kickoffs

The Ravens became the first NFL team since at least 1980 to produce a scoring drive after receiving a kickoff with under 10 seconds remaining.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

He had an 80-yard kickoff return nullified by penalty on Friday but also made an impact at receiver in his first varsity game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

He was the backup on varsity last season, getting to do one kickoff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The NFL kickoff served as a timely reminder that while other teams have received more early hype, the Seahawks still figure to be a force as they try to win back-to-back titles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Then he returned to his apartment to finish the job of cleaning up the litter left from the kickoff rally.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Executives also hire him to help write their material for corporate kickoffs and all-hands meetings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

“Field goals have got to go through the uprights, punts got to go outside the numbers with good hang time and kickoffs got to get on the ground just like any other game,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2026

That first season, the percentage of touchbacks on kickoffs plummeted because kickers couldn’t boot the ball as far.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025

Karty, who has been masterful at dropping hard-to-handle knuckleball kickoffs into the landing zone, also misplaced a kick that gave the 49ers the ball at the 40-yard line.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2025

I’d been at campaign kickoffs, fund-raisers, and election-night parties.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama