field goal

noun

1
: a score of three points in football made by drop-kicking or placekicking the ball over the crossbar from ordinary play
2
: a goal in basketball made while the ball is in play

Examples of field goal in a Sentence

He kicked a 20-yard field goal.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Before Saturday’s win, the Knicks led all playoff teams in field goal percentage, 2-point field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 24 May 2026 Hart made eight of his final 14 field goals, including five of his last eight 3’s, tying a career high for 3’s in a playoff game. Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Harden also scored 15 points, but was just 1 for 8 on 3-pointers and had more turnovers (six) than field goals (five). CBS News, 19 May 2026 The recovery was fueled the Sun’s young stars: Leger-Walker, Morrow and Rivers put up four points apiece over the first three minutes of the second, and each added an assist on three of the five field goals made during the run. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for field goal

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of field goal was in 1883

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Field goal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field%20goal. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

field goal

noun
1
: a score of three points in football made by kicking the ball over the crossbar during ordinary play
2

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