fair catch

noun

: a catch of a kicked football by a player who gives a prescribed signal, may not advance the ball, and may not be tackled

fair-catch

ˈfer-ˈkach 

-ˈkech

transitive verb

Examples of fair catch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Your inability to simply complete a fair catch led directly to a Seahawks touchdown. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

After the Chargers caught a fair catch with no time remaining, Harbaugh used a fair-catch free kick to score before the half. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Fair catch kick Under a proposal, a team could choose to attempt a fair catch kick after a completed or awarded fair catch. — Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026

Seattle kick returner Rashid Shaheed made Super Bowl history with six fair catches; Seahawks kicker Jason Myers connected for five field goals, also a record; and the Patriots, appearing in their record 12th Super Bowl, lost the NFL’s marquee game for the sixth time, the most for any franchise. — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fair catch

• attach
• bycatch
• despatch
• detach
• dispatch
• mismatch
• nuthatch
• potlatch
• bache
• batch
• brach
• hatch