touchdown
Americannoun
-
Football. an act or instance of scoring six points by being in possession of the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line.
-
Rugby. the act of a player who touches the ball on or to the ground inside his own in-goal.
-
the act or the moment of landing.
the aircraft's touchdown.
noun
-
the moment at which a landing aircraft or spacecraft comes into contact with the landing surface
-
rugby the act of placing or touching the ball on the ground behind the goal line, as in scoring a try
-
TD. American football a scoring play worth six points, achieved by being in possession of the ball in the opposing team's end zone See also field goal
verb
-
(of a space vehicle, aircraft, etc) to land
-
rugby to place the ball behind the goal line, as when scoring a try
-
informal to pause during a busy schedule in order to catch up, reorganize, or rest
Etymology
Origin of touchdown
Explanation
A touchdown is a six-point score in football. Another kind of touchdown is what happens the moment a landing airplane's wheels touch the ground. If you're a nervous flyer, you probably breathe a sigh of relief at touchdown. And if you're a fan of football in North America, you may roar with delight when your team makes a touchdown. The word originally referred to the moment in a rugby match when the ball is touched to the ground inside the goal. In football, a touchdown is scored when a player carries the ball into the opponent's end zone.
Vocabulary lists containing touchdown
Set, Hut! Football Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
American Football, 1st Quarter
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for March 2–March 8, 2025
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The next day, the NFL released a statement saying the officials missed a pass interference call on Tate that would have negated the touchdown.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
She told her young son that she would reward him with $1 for every flag he grabbed, and $5 for every touchdown he scored.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026
He led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions, but was still discussed in trade talks.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
He was there when Narbonne and San Pedro tied 21-21 in the 2008 City championship game at the Coliseum on a San Pedro touchdown with one second left.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
Other artwork showcased additional sports—a football player scoring a touchdown, a baseball player swinging a bat, and a sprinter handing off a baton to a teammate.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
