soccer

American  

[sok-er] / ˈsɒk ər /

British, association football

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.

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soccer British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of soccer

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

Compare meaning

How does soccer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Rugby vs. soccer

Example Sentences

European soccer leaders have even discussed the possibility of a boycott, although such an action is unlikely to happen, given the revenue at stake for national teams and football associations.

From Salon

That is because New England's Gillette Stadium is a host venue for this summer's soccer World Cup, which requires real grass playing surfaces for every match.

From Barron's

"James is a player whose quality, vision, and experience at the highest levels of the game are unquestioned," United chief soccer officer and sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad said.

From Barron's

When the police come to shut down Maria Ángeles’s illegal café, it seems probable that they’ll pause to have a drink and watch the soccer match instead.

From The Wall Street Journal

The kid holding the bat was captain of the soccer team, the type of kid who should have cared that Toby couldn’t bat.

From Literature