personal foul
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of personal foul
First recorded in 1820–30
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.
Notre Dame lost its standout nose tackle, Chris Colon, for next week’s game after being ejected for two 15-yard personal foul penalties.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2025
“He knows that we have his back,” said Bozeman, who was called for a personal foul and described Shepherd’s play as “unacceptable.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2024
Brown and Robinson exchanged words and Brown was assessed a flagrant 1 foul while Robinson got called for a personal foul.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 11, 2024
Following Metcalf’s TD, Tennessee scored after Seattle cornerback Artie Burns was called for a personal foul for shoving Tennessee’s Mason Kinsey after a play that would have set up a third-and-4.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 24, 2023
Though Locksley didn’t specify, two calls last week stood out, both 15-yard personal foul penalties.
From Washington Times • Nov. 16, 2023
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.
