soccer

American  

[sok-er] / ˈsɒk ər /

British, association football

noun

1. a form of football played between two teams of 11 players, in which the ball may be advanced by kicking or by bouncing it off any part of the body but the arms and hands, except in the case of the goalkeepers, who may use their hands to catch, carry, throw, or stop the ball.

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soccer British  

/ ˈsɒkə /

noun

1. Also called: Association Football. 

   1. a game in which two teams of eleven players try to kick or head a ball into their opponent's goal, only the goalkeeper on either side being allowed to touch the ball with his hands and arms except in the case of throw-ins

   2. ( as modifier )

      a soccer player

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Etymology

Origin of soccer

First recorded in 1890–95; (As)soc(iation football) + -er ⁷

Compare meaning

How does soccer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Rugby vs. soccer

Explanation

Soccer is a sport that's played with a round black and white ball that players pass to each other using their feet. To win a soccer match, your side has to kick the ball into the goal more times than your rivals do. Go team! In most parts of the world, soccer is known as football, which makes sense since players (except the goalie) can't touch the ball with their hands — they mainly control and move it with their feet. In the U.S., however, football is a completely different sport, one that's known as American football everywhere else,. Soccer comes from socca, slang for Assoc., which is a shortened version of Association football.

Example Sentences

In New York and New Jersey, its investments were allocated to the construction of mini soccer fields, while in Houston, the funding was used to support a green corridor initiative.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Starting in June, Mexico is due to host matches for the World Cup soccer tournament, an event that is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the globe.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The World Cup feels like a competition to soak soccer fans, writes columnist Jason Gay, accusing NJ Transit of following FIFA’s ransacking lead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

That’s the price NJ Transit has put on a claustrophobic round trip to its shores this summer for the upcoming global soccer extravaganza.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

She’s smiling at least as wide as she did when she scored the winning goal in the spring soccer championships, and I stretch my smile out to match.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison