technical foul

noun

basketball
: a foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for unsportsmanlike conduct (such as arguing with an official or taunting an opponent) and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent while the ball is in play

called also technical

compare personal foul

Examples of technical foul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Diana Taurasi’s birthday, no less, the queen of the technical foul brought her full energy to the court in spirit, igniting multiple scuffles, including two that involved Clark herself. Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Crew chief Ashley Gross spoke to a pool reporter after the game and was asked about the Clark technical foul. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025 Conversely, Sheldon was assessed a flagrant for poking Clark in the eye, and both Mabrey and Tina Charles were hit with technical fouls as well for their involvement. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 After a lengthy review, Cunningham was issued a flagrant foul penalty 2, and Sheldon and Allen received technical fouls. Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for technical foul

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of technical foul was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!