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personal foul

American

noun

Sports.

a foul called in certain games, as basketball or football, for illegal body contact or rough, unsportsmanlike play.

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

There were numerous 15-yard personal foul penalties for taunting, late hits, grabbing the face mask and a horse collar.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2025

Duren was ejected after receiving a personal foul and two technicals.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 9, 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

The unnecessary roughness penalty was the third personal foul on Greenlaw this season and his ejection was his second in the past two years.

From Washington Times • Dec. 9, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023