false start

noun

1

: a premature start (as of a race or football play)

2

: an unsuccessful attempt to begin something (such as a career)

Examples of false start in a Sentence

If someone makes a false start, the race is immediately stopped and the runners have to start again.

After several false starts, the researchers were finally able to identify the virus causing the epidemic.

Recent Examples on the Web

On the opening drive of the game, the Chargers were flagged for a false start when Johnston and receiver Tre’ Harris botched a pre-snap motion. —Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025

Whether that proves to be a reset for Taylor or a different sort of false start than the ones that have hovered over him remains to be seen. —Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2025

Two penalties on Boise State’s first drive of the fourth quarter — offensive pass interference and a false start — turned a first-and-10 on the Boise State 46 into a first-and-30 from the 26. —Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2025

Bengals' have false start then a 24-yard punt. —Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for false start

• counterpart
• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart