technical foul

American  

noun

Basketball.

1. a foul committed by a player or coach, usually not involving physical contact with an opponent, called often for unsportsmanlike conduct, as holding on to the basket or using profanity, that gives the opposing team one or two free throws and sometimes, if the foul was flagrant, requires the ejection of the offending player or coach from the game.

---

Etymology

Origin of technical foul

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

With 15 technical fouls, he is just one away from a mandatory one-game suspension.

From Los Angeles Times

Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season against the Nuggets.

From Los Angeles Times

By piling up technical fouls, they’ve climbed to the top of the standings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Referees assessed Detroit just 47 technical fouls that year, putting them in the bottom third of the league as they limped to a 14-68 record.

From The Wall Street Journal

Luke Kennard received a technical foul in the third quarter and Ayton got a technical foul in the fourth quarter after being called for a foul blocking a shot by Williamson.

From Los Angeles Times