soccer

British, association football

[sok-er]

noun

1. a form of football played between two teams of 11 players, in which the ball may be advanced by kicking or by bouncing it off any part of the body but the arms and hands, except in the case of the goalkeepers, who may use their hands to catch, carry, throw, or stop the ball.

soccer

/ ˈsɒkə /

noun

1. Also called: Association Football. 

   1. a game in which two teams of eleven players try to kick or head a ball into their opponent's goal, only the goalkeeper on either side being allowed to touch the ball with his hands and arms except in the case of throw-ins

   2. ( as modifier )

      a soccer player

Word History and Origins

Origin of soccer¹

First recorded in 1890–95; (As)soc(iation football) + -er ⁷

Word History and Origins

Origin of soccer¹

C19: from ( as ) soc. + -er

Example Sentences

The child tosses a soccer ball at three plastic bowling pins gathered in front of him, knocking down two.

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SYDNEY—Catapult Sports is looking to its latest acquisition to help lower-tier soccer teams target the billions of dollars that the sport’s giants splurge each year on player transfers.

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They are often the people who organize their community soccer team’s schedule, step up to run the school fundraiser or volunteer for cross-functional committees at work.

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Real is famed for soccer, but it’s also a Hogwarts for hoops.

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“I played every sport growing up — soccer, football, basketball, golf, tennis, rugby, swimming,” he said.

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