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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of penalty area

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

One question will be asked – will foreign referees at a World Cup be as tolerant of the physical exchanges in the penalty area that often go unpunished in the Premier League?

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

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 • Mar. 20, 2026

The Villa full-back was at least a yard inside the penalty area when he was penalised for a handball, but incredibly Kavanagh awarded a free-kick - from which Tonali eventually scored the 63rd-minute equaliser.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

He raced into the Newcastle penalty area and when Dan Burn made a last-ditch tackle, the ball bounced off the Egypt forward and looped into the net.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

A Kinnow defender took Maya down in the penalty area, and he blew the whistle right away.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor