personal foul
Americannoun
-
personal fouls
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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
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
Mahomes had a 10-yard run and got hit by Jonathan Owens while going out of bounds, leading to a personal foul that put the ball at Green Bay’s 45.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 3, 2023
The lone fine, revealed by the league Saturday, was levied on Washington cornerback Emmanuel Forbes for a personal foul on a hit to the helmet of Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 18, 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.