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

Youssef Maziz played a free kick from the right side into the area that was redirected by Ebobisse off the back post and into the net. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Philadelphia came out aggressive in the second half, took control of the game, and tied it in the 58th minute on a close-range header from Neil Pierre on a cross from Milan Iloski after a free kick. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Youssef Maziz drove a ball into the box on a free kick from 25 yards out on the near side following a Yevhen Cheberko yellow card. — Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Identifying set-piece takers gives you a fighting chance of cutting through the uncertainty, so who is likely to be on penalties and free kicks for each Premier League side, and who is worth your fantasy investment? — Holly Shand, New York Times, 20 Aug. 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