football

[ foot-bawl ]

noun

1. a game in which two opposing teams of 11 players each defend goals at opposite ends of a field having goal posts at each end, with points being scored chiefly by carrying the ball across the opponent's goal line and by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponent's goal posts. Compare conversion ( def 13 ), field goal ( def 1 ), safety ( def 6 ), touchdown.
2. the ball used in this game, an inflated oval with a bladder contained in a casing usually made of leather.
3. Chiefly British. Rugby ( def 1 ).
4. Chiefly British. soccer.
5. something sold at a reduced or special price.
6. any person or thing treated roughly or tossed about:

   They're making a political football of this issue.

7. (initial capital letter) U.S. Government Slang. a briefcase containing the codes and options the president would use to launch a nuclear attack, carried by a military aide and kept available to the president at all times.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to offer for sale at a reduced or special price.

football

/ ˈfʊtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. 1. any of various games played with a round or oval ball and usually based on two teams competing to kick, head, carry, or otherwise propel the ball into each other's goal, territory, etc See association football rugby Australian Rules American football Gaelic football
   2. ( as modifier )

      a football ground

      a football supporter

2. the ball used in any of these games or their variants
3. a problem, issue, etc, that is continually passed from one group or person to another and treated as a pretext for argument instead of being resolved

   he accused the government of using the strike as a political football

Derived Forms

• ˈfootˌballer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of football¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, football is from Middle English fut ball. See foot, ball ¹

Example Sentences

"We do know there was a lot of interest from various museums, academics, football fans and authors. I think it has to have that to make the competition work," she said.

From BBC

"If it wasn't for us women then, the football wouldn't be as big as it is now," she said.

From BBC

Here’s the complete weekend championship football schedule for City Section and Southern Section.

From Los Angeles Times

Irving Weaver, 75, is owner and chairman of the North Yorkshire club who vowed when he took over in 2011 to "put Harrogate further up the football pyramid".

From BBC

Now he has to deliver a return to football’s top table for the first time in a quarter of a century.

From BBC

Related Words

• soccer