penalty kick

American  

[pen-l-tee kik] / ˈpɛn l ti ˌkɪk /

noun

Soccer.

• penalty kicks
  plural

1. a free kick awarded for an infraction committed by a defensive player in the penalty area and taken by the offensive player who has been fouled from a point 12 yards (11 meters) directly in front of the goal. PK

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penalty kick British  

noun

1. soccer a free kick at the goal from a point ( penalty spot ) within the penalty area and 12 yards (about 11 m) from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend it: awarded to the attacking team after a foul within the penalty area by a member of the defending team

2. rugby Union a kick awarded after a serious foul that can be aimed straight at the goal to score three points

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• penalty kicks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penalty kick

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penalty kick

Benn described their meeting as "such an honour" and he even got a chance to take a penalty kick against his sporting hero.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

The buzz: France, bidding to make its third consecutive World Cup final, needed a penalty kick from Kylian Mbappé to dispatch stubborn Paraguay, a third-place team, in the round of 16.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Here’s what goes into trying to block a World Cup penalty kick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

To help people understand what goes into trying to block a World Cup penalty kick, WSJ created a game, so you can try your hand—or foot or body—at it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

When they got to the bus stop, Beatrice hooked up with one of her soccer teammates and they started talking about the previous night’s game, which Beatrice had won with a penalty kick.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen