soccer

[ sok-er ]

/ ˈsɒk ər /

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noun

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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Also British, association football .

Origin of soccer

First recorded in 1890–95; (As)soc(iation football) + -er⁷

Words nearby soccer

soc, soca, socage, socager, so-called, soccer, soccer mom, Socceroos, Soche, Sochi, sociability

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use soccer in a sentence

By almost any standards it’s a stunning rise to stardom for a player many mainstream soccer fans had never even heard of two years ago.
The unending fairytale of a former Liberian refugee teen who’s now a European soccer champion|Yomi Kazeem|August 26, 2020|Quartz
A social scientist tested that idea in Iraq by putting Christians and Muslims on the same soccer teams.
Interfaith soccer teams eased Muslim-Christian tensions — to a point|Sujata Gupta|August 13, 2020|Science News
So, the most important thing to understand about women’s soccer is that FIFA banned it until 1971.
Should America (and FIFA) Pay Reparations? (Ep. 426)|Stephen J. Dubner|July 16, 2020|Freakonomics
Inside the animal was a squished mass the size of a soccer ball.
Fossil stomach reveals a dinosaur’s last meal|Carolyn Wilke|July 7, 2020|Science News For Students

An ambitious plan to build a quantum computer the size of a soccer field could soon become a reality.
A New Startup Intends to Build the World’s First Large-Scale Quantum Computer|Edd Gent|June 22, 2020|Singularity Hub
His section on why he and his wife split—he essentially chose soccer over her—would be risky if its candor were not so refreshing.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is a brutally honest section of the book about how you fell out of love with your wife, and essentially chose soccer.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Soccer in the rest of the world is what we know as basketball.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
United States goalkeeper Tim Howard on why soccer struggles in America and how he essentially chose his career over his wife.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to contemporary reports, at several of the truces, there were rough soccer matches between the German and British sides.
Royals Remember The Christmas Truce of 1914|Tom Sykes|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Would I kick off the football season or attend some particular Soccer game?
My Wonderful Visit|Charlie Chaplin
She had something the size of a soccer-ball slung over her back now, and I stared admiringly at it.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Among the team games suitable for girls are: field hockey, soccer, baseball played with a soft ball and basket-ball.
How Girls Can Help Their Country|Juliette Low
He is so excited that he goes outside to tell his friends during their soccer game.
FreeChildrenStories.com Collection|Daniel Errico
Neon has never played soccer before, but he actually likes it.
FreeChildrenStories.com Collection|Daniel Errico

British Dictionary definitions for soccer

soccer

/ (ˈsɒkə) /

noun

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
(as modifier)a soccer player

Also called: Association Football

Word Origin for soccer

C19: from (as) soc. + -er

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

soccer

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Origin of soccer

Words nearby soccer

Words related to soccer

How to use soccer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for soccer

Word Origin for soccer