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
The Sun made one final push late in the fourth quarter, trimming Indiana’s lead to two points after Clark was assessed a technical foul.
—
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Her frustration boiled over late in the game, as she was twice called for technical fouls.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
Reese drove the length of the floor and appeared to complete a layup, but after a coach's challenge the call was overturned — Reese was charged with an offensive foul and a technical foul, swinging momentum firmly back to New York at a moment when Atlanta was making a run.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Johnson argued with referees and received two technical fouls before being escorted away by police, Reuters reported.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
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Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Her frustration boiled over late in the game, as she was twice called for technical fouls.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
Reese drove the length of the floor and appeared to complete a layup, but after a coach's challenge the call was overturned — Reese was charged with an offensive foul and a technical foul, swinging momentum firmly back to New York at a moment when Atlanta was making a run.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Johnson argued with referees and received two technical fouls before being escorted away by police, Reuters reported.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 7 June 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 18 Jun. 2026.
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