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
Suggs earned two technical fouls in a heated altercation with 27 seconds left before halftime.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Despite standing just 6 feet tall, the guard crashed to the glass and pursued loose balls with reckless abandon, culminating in a scuffle that earned Wisconsin’s Andrew Rohde a rally-killing technical foul.
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2025
Drummond, Carter, Walker, and Magic guard Desmond Bane each received technical fouls.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Jaxson Hayes picked up a technical foul coming to Doncic’s defense.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
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.
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Despite standing just 6 feet tall, the guard crashed to the glass and pursued loose balls with reckless abandon, culminating in a scuffle that earned Wisconsin’s Andrew Rohde a rally-killing technical foul.
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2025
Drummond, Carter, Walker, and Magic guard Desmond Bane each received technical fouls.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Jaxson Hayes picked up a technical foul coming to Doncic’s defense.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 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 1 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share