field goal

noun

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of field goal

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

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Examples of field goal in a Sentence

He kicked a 20-yard field goal.

Recent Examples of field goal from the Web

Jordan Perdomo The 6-2, 180-pound senior ranked second in Division 1 scoring with 30 touchdowns, three field goals, and more than 30 extra points, while accumulating more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

— BostonGlobe.com, "2017-18 Football All-Scholastics," 8 Apr. 2018
The team logged a season high 15 steals, picked up 44 rebounds, scored 18 fast-break points, while holding the Hornets to just 33 made field goals and 30 percent from three.

— sarah todd, Philly.com, "Sixers 119-Hornets 102: Ben Simmons runs the show, Marco Belinelli comes up big, and other quick thoughts from the Sixers 10th straight win," 1 Apr. 2018
Miller, who made five field goals and 44 extra points for the Warriors, was convinced to try placekicking by her soccer coach Kathy Siefert, who became the football team's kicking coach this season.

— steve millar, Daily Southtown, "Girls soccer notes: Crete-Monee's Grace Miller finds time for football too," 1 Apr. 2018
But on Villanova’s next possession, Spellman buried another 3, giving Villanova five straight field goals and a 14-4 lead.

— doug haller, azcentral, "Villanova sets Final Four shooting record in rout of Kansas," 31 Mar. 2018
Instead, the Bengals settled for a field goal and lost by one point.

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "Catch rule that haunted the Cincinnati Bengals changed by NFL," 27 Mar. 2018
Instead, defense and turnovers dominated the regional final in the first half, which ended with Michigan up 27-26 despite managing only one field goal and missing four free throws in the final 81/2 minutes.

— greg beacham, Houston Chronicle, "Michigan edges Florida St. to reach first Final Four since 2013," 24 Mar. 2018
Instead, defense and turnovers dominated the regional final in the first half, which ended with Michigan up 27-26 despite managing only one field goal and missing four free throws in the final 8 ½ minutes.

— greg beacham, chicagotribune.com, "Michigan nips Florida State, 58-54, to give Loyola its Final Four opponent," 24 Mar. 2018
The Seminoles blocked five shots in the first half, Wagner did not have a field goal and the Wolverines were 2 of 10 from 3.

— nick baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan holds off Florida State, 58-54, advances to eighth Final Four," 24 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'field goal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of field goal

1883

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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FIELD GOAL Defined for English Language Learners

field goal

noun

Definition of field goal for English Language Learners

American football : a score of three points made by kicking the ball between the goalposts

FIELD GOAL Defined for Kids

field goal

noun

Definition of field goal for Students

: a score in football made by kicking the ball between the goalposts

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See words that rhyme with field goal Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about field goal

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field goal

Definition of field goal

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FIELD GOAL Defined for English Language Learners

field goal

Definition of field goal for English Language Learners

FIELD GOAL Defined for Kids

field goal

Definition of field goal for Students

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Definition of field goal

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