free kick

noun

: a kick (as in football, soccer, or rugby) with which an opponent may not interfere

especially : such a kick in any direction awarded because of an infraction of the rules by an opponent

Examples of free kick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the final moments of the first half, a few minutes into stoppage time, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi lined up for a free kick about 29 yards out and took a chance on goal. — Joe Murphy, NBC news, 9 July 2026

Folarin Balogun, the striker whose 11th-hour reinstatement Sunday by FIFA unleashed an international furor and much anti-Yankee sentiment abroad, created a free kick with a fine hold-up play. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026

But even with Messi’s early goal, the game was a nail-biter, with Cape Verde scoring two brilliant goals while their goalie Vozinha made eight saves, including four shots (one of them a free kick) from Messi. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

The Americans evened the score at the 31-minute mark on another exquisite free kick from Malik Tillman, who scored a similar goal in the previous game against Bosnia. — Miami Herald, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for free kick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick

Kids Definition

free kick

noun

: a kick (as in football or soccer) with which an opponent may not interfere

also : such a kick awarded because an opponent has broken the rules