penalty area

American  

noun

Soccer.

1. the area, 44 yards (40 meters) wide and 18 yards (16 meters) deep, centered on the goal line and extending in front of the goal, where a foul by a defensive player results in a penalty kick for the offensive team.

---

penalty area British  

noun

1. soccer a rectangular area in front of the goal, within which the goalkeeper may handle the ball and within which a penalty is awarded for a foul by the defending team

---

Etymology

Origin of penalty area

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

The visitors' goal was alarmingly simple, with one pass from their own half splitting the Welsh midfield and defence to allow Bojan Miovski time and space in the penalty area to finish.

From BBC

Arianna Caruso played the pass into the space between United's defence and their penalty area and Harder outpaced skipper Maya Le Tissier to score, just as she did in the second half when eventual match-winner Tanikawa provided the pass.

From BBC

Lampard wasn't as subtle as those three but his intelligence and timing to run into the penalty area and get on the end of things was the best out of any midfield player.

From BBC

One of my favourite moments of the season came last week, watching Arsenal's Max Dowman break forward from his own penalty area to score a goal that sealed his side's Premier League win over Everton.

From BBC

Their attack was not quite clicking and in the first half Arsenal were denied a penalty when Kai Havertz tangled with Michael Keane in the penalty area.

From BBC