touchback

[ tuhch-bak ]

noun

, Football.

1. a play in which the ball is downed after having been kicked into the end zone by the opposing team or having been recovered or intercepted there, or in which it has been kicked beyond the end zone. Compare safety ( def 6a ).

touchback

/ ˈtʌtʃˌbæk /

noun

1. American football a play in which the ball is put down by a player behind his own goal line when the ball has been put across the goal line by an opponent Compare safety

Word History and Origins

Origin of touchback¹

First recorded in 1885–90; touch + back ²

Example Sentences

The same group never wants the ball to reach the end zone for a touchback.

From FiveThirtyEight

Araiza had a 59-yard net on a 79-yard touchback against Hawaii, and five of his 14 touchbacks have exceeded the 40-yard net SDSU cares so much about.

From FiveThirtyEight

The 49ers muffed a punt, with returner Brandon Aiyuk kicking the ball backward into his own end zone for what became a touchback, fortunately for him.

From Washington Post

There was a 79-yard punt by the Colts when 49ers returner Brandon Aiyuk muffed the rain-soaked football, then kicked it inadvertently backward into his own end zone for a fortuitous touchback.

From Washington Post

In 2012, college football moved the kickoff line forward from the 30-yard line to the 35 and the touchback line from the 20-yard line to the 25, encouraging teams to take touchbacks and avoid some of those collisions.

From FiveThirtyEight

The other, to his immediate left, is calling for a touchback, the result of an interception.

From The Daily Beast

Carmine finally fell on the ball for a touchback and the excitement in the stands subsided.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Boxford boy was on the ball and had scored a touchback!

From Project Gutenberg

She punted on the next down and Stone misjudged the ball and followed it across the line for a touchback.

From Project Gutenberg

He might have played it safe by taking it over the line for a touchback, but the idea didnt occur to him.

From Project Gutenberg