Main Entry:

foot·ball

Pronunciation:

\ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯl\

Function:

noun

Date:

15th century

1: any of several games played between two teams on a usu. rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the ball over a goal line, into a goal, or between goalposts by running, passing, or kicking: as aBritish : soccer bBritish : rugby c: an American game played between two teams of 11 players each in which the ball is in possession of one side at a time and is advanced by running or passing dAustralian : australian rules football eCanada : canadian football 2 a: an inflated oval ball used in the game of football bBritish : a soccer ball3: something treated roughly especially as the subject of a prolonged dispute <the issue became a political football in Congress>

— foot·ball·er \-ˌbȯ-lər\ noun