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

On the ensuing free kick, Mané nearly scored a goal. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026

Equally notable throughout the game was the angry screech, reserved for whenever the Czech Republic players had the ball — or worse — were given a free kick. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026

The key difference is that a penalty kick is awarded after a foul inside the penalty area — the big rectangle drawn near the opposing goal — and a free kick is awarded outside the penalty area. — ABC News, 25 June 2026

The biggest threat came on a free kick from just outside the box from Marcel Sabitzer that forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make a diving stop to his left. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 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