yellow card

American

noun

Soccer. a yellow card shown by the referee to a player being cautioned for a violation.

yellow card British

noun

a card of a yellow colour displayed by a referee to indicate that a player has been officially cautioned for some offence

"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

verb

(tr) to caution (a player) officially for some offence

"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

adjective

serving as a warning; intended to warn

a yellow card system is in place

"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

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.

"There was not enough power or force for the red card. The yellow card was a fair decision."

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Earlier in the game, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany and his players were also left incensed when PSG left-back Nuno Mendes escaped a second yellow card for a handball.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

The Arsenal defender escaped with a yellow card.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Last year, YouTuber Max Fosh was given a yellow card, which he then shredded.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

In frustration, Mandela pushed off, drawing a yellow card.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

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