yellow card

American  

noun

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

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yellow card British  

noun

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

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verb

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

adjective

1. serving as a warning; intended to warn

   a yellow card system is in place

Example Sentences

The Bulls were in the ascendancy and Cummings' yellow card was looking ever more expensive as Cameron Hanekom gained territory and Francois Klopper went in under the posts to set up an easy Pollard conversion.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Kai Havertz made a lunging tackle from behind on Lesley Ugochukwu, with the Arsenal player only shown a yellow card.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Referee Stuart Attwell could only take action against Cucurella with a yellow card, and once VAR confirmed the ball had not been kicked there was no room to initiate a review and subsequent spot-kick.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

That was a yellow card and, as Belluz was already on a caution, he was dismissed.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Max slides the money into the slot, and the machine clinks and hums before it spits out a yellow card.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi