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
After the game, referee Roy Gulbeyan explained what triggered Tibbetts’ technical fouls.
—
Ben Pickman, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Angry at the lack of fouls called on Magic guard Darrell Armstrong, Hardaway Sr. picked up a second technical foul during the third quarter, disqualifying him.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2025
Reeve received her second technical foul in the final minute of the Lynx’s 84-76 defeat.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
The Lynx boss was assessed her second technical foul of the game with 21.8 seconds left — and had to be restrained by other coaches — after Alyssa Thomas stole a ball from Napheesa Collier and drove in for an uncontested layup to, basically, ice the game.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
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Ben Pickman, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Angry at the lack of fouls called on Magic guard Darrell Armstrong, Hardaway Sr. picked up a second technical foul during the third quarter, disqualifying him.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2025
Reeve received her second technical foul in the final minute of the Lynx’s 84-76 defeat.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
The Lynx boss was assessed her second technical foul of the game with 21.8 seconds left — and had to be restrained by other coaches — after Alyssa Thomas stole a ball from Napheesa Collier and drove in for an uncontested layup to, basically, ice the game.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
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 13 Oct. 2025.
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