soccer

[ 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 calledAssociation 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

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.

From Quartz

A social scientist tested that idea in Iraq by putting Christians and Muslims on the same soccer teams.

From Science News

So, the most important thing to understand about women’s soccer is that FIFA banned it until 1971.

From Freakonomics

Inside the animal was a squished mass the size of a soccer ball.

From Science News For Students

An ambitious plan to build a quantum computer the size of a soccer field could soon become a reality.

From 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.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Soccer in the rest of the world is what we know as basketball.

From The Daily Beast

United States goalkeeper Tim Howard on why soccer struggles in America and how he essentially chose his career over his wife.

From The Daily Beast

According to contemporary reports, at several of the truces, there were rough soccer matches between the German and British sides.

From The Daily Beast

Would I kick off the football season or attend some particular Soccer game?

From Project Gutenberg

She had something the size of a soccer-ball slung over her back now, and I stared admiringly at it.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the team games suitable for girls are: field hockey, soccer, baseball played with a soft ball and basket-ball.

From Project Gutenberg

He is so excited that he goes outside to tell his friends during their soccer game.

From Project Gutenberg

Neon has never played soccer before, but he actually likes it.

From Project Gutenberg