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

After a field goal or extra point, the kicking operation returns to the sideline and awaits the next opportunity. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026

Carlson had a chance to give Green Bay a 24-17 lead over San Francisco in the 2023 NFC divisional playoffs, but missed a 41-yard field goal with just more than 5 minutes left. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Willis completed passes to Jalen Reagor, Cole Turner and De’Von Achane to get the offense into field goal range. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Then turned the ball over on downs, leading to a Seattle field goal. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 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