own goal

noun

1

chiefly British : a goal in soccer, hockey, etc., that a player accidentally scores against his or her own team

2

British : something that one does thinking it will help him or her but that actually causes one harm

The workers scored an own goal by demanding such high wages that no one could afford to employ them.

Examples of own goal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taiwan restored its lead when a penalty bounced off the post and in off Indian goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu for an own goal. —ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026

Agyemang headed the ball into the bottom right corner of his own goal while trying to keep it away from an Austin FC attacker, much to goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina’s chagrin. —Scott Fowler march 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026

Fewer passes are going back towards a side’s own goal, with a much higher share sent deep into the opposition half. —Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Danika Kilbourne scored the fourth goal and the final goal caromed off a trio of players and was deemed an own goal. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for own goal

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol