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

After good play from Boston, Utah responded and secured its first goal in the 32nd minute with a free kick near the Legacy's goal. —Riley Rourke, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

The lead grew to 3-0 in the early minutes of the second half when freshman Lainey Wells headed in a free kick. —Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026

There were signs of disconnection as stray passes failed to find a blue shirt, the most obvious example being Erin Cuthbert hoping to hit an onward runner from a free kick, only for the ball to go straight out of play. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026

Four minutes later, Cable scored on a 50-yard free kick. —Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 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