football

1 of 2

noun (1)

foot·​ball ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯl 

1

: any of several games played between two teams on a usually rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the ball over a goal line, into a goal, or between goalposts by running, passing, or kicking: such as

a

British : soccer

b

British : rugby

c

: an American game played between two teams of 11 players each in which the ball is in possession of one side at a time and is advanced by running or passing

d

Australia : australian rules football

e

Canada : canadian football

2

a

: an inflated oval ball used in the game of football

b

British : a soccer ball

3

: something treated roughly especially as the subject of a prolonged dispute

the issue became a political football in Congress

footballer

ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯ-lər 

noun

footballer

2 of 2

noun (2)

: one that plays football or soccer

Did you know?

The game of US football evolved in the 19th century as a combination of rugby and soccer. The first intercollegiate match was played in 1869 between Princeton University and Rutgers College. In 1873, the first collegiate rules were standardized and the Ivy League was formed. Collegiate football grew into one of the most popular American sports. Professional football began in the 1890s, but did not become a major sport until after World War II. The National Football League (NFL) was formed (from an earlier association) in 1922; in 1966 it subsumed the rival American Football League (created in 1959). The NFL is now divided into an American and a National conference; the conference winners compete for the Super Bowl championship. A Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio.

Examples of football in a Sentence

Noun (1)

He played a lot of football in high school and college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Quintanilla is remembered by the Menifee community as a football player at Liberty High School with a bright future. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Should a college football team make the College Football Playoff because the sport’s leaders see them as an up-and-coming team that could use some extra cash, exposure and experience? — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

The Longhorns have big expectations this year and Manning needs to take them deep into the college football playoffs. — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The schedule was difficult, but that four-game stretch to end 2024 in which DJ Lagway gripped the attention of the college football world was inspiring. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing football

• American football
• arena football
• association football
• Australian Rules football
• Canadian football
• fantasy football/baseball/basketball
• flag football
• football/golf widow
• football scholarship
• political football
• table football
• touch football

Rhymes for football

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

football

noun

foot·​ball ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯl 

1

: any of several games in which two teams try to advance a ball to the goals at each end of a large rectangular field: as

a

British : soccer

b

British : rugby

c

: an American game played between two teams of 11 players each in which the ball is advanced by running or passing

2

: the ball used in football