touch football

American

noun

an informal variety of football in which the touching, usually with both hands, of a ball-carrier by a member of the opposing team results in a down.

touch football British

noun

an informal version of American football chiefly characterized by players being touched rather than tackled

"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

Etymology

Origin of touch football

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

touch football

Quite simply, Guardiola's fingerprints touch football at all levels.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

Whether it’s a group stroll, touch football game on the lawn, quick bike ride, run, or impromptu dancing to “Shake It Off,” moving your body aids digestion, regulates blood sugar, eases tension and promotes relaxation.

From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2025

A wise person once said: can’t choose your parents, but you can choose your touch football team quarterback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025

On a recent morning, National Guards troops — some dressed in full combat fatigues, others in T-shirts and shorts — could be seen exercising, milling about and playing a game of touch football.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2025

A sports column caught his eye, and squinting, he could read the neatly printed description of a noon- recess touch football game.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023