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

Romo went 2-4 in the playoffs, famously dropping a snap for a potential game-winning field goal in his first against the Seattle Seahawks. — Jasmine Baehr , Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Milton-Jones ranks third in franchise history in blocks (245) and fourth in points (4,018), field goals (1,509), rebounds (1,882), steals (440) and minutes (10,384). — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

But with Orzech out, the Packers didn't attempt any field goals. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

The Bengals won, 61-7, after Wyche had kicker Jim Breech kick a 30-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining to assure the Bengals got that 60-burger. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for field goal

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

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

: basket sense 3b