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 foulExamples of technical foul in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a four-game span, the Philadelphia 76ers star received a technical foul for shoving Donte DiVincenzo, and flagrant fouls for dragging Mitchell Robinson to the floor and swiping Brunson in the head.
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Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
The ferocity of the Lakers’ answer rattled Houston such that the Rockets were hit with two technical fouls on unbridled anger from Jae’Sean Tate and coach Ime Udoka.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
McDaniels shoved Jokic in the back and picked up a dead ball technical foul.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
The first quarter featured two challenges, a technical foul on Adelman and a flagrant on McDaniels for not giving Murray enough room to land on a long jumper.
—CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
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Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
The ferocity of the Lakers’ answer rattled Houston such that the Rockets were hit with two technical fouls on unbridled anger from Jae’Sean Tate and coach Ime Udoka.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
McDaniels shoved Jokic in the back and picked up a dead ball technical foul.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
The first quarter featured two challenges, a technical foul on Adelman and a flagrant on McDaniels for not giving Murray enough room to land on a long jumper.
—CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
Cite this Entry
“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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