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

Abdullah Altuwaijri had the shutout as the Vipers used an own goal to advance. —Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 23 Mar. 2026

Anton Forsberg stopped 29 of 31 shots, with the Sabres getting an own goal and an empty-netter. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026

Dallas got some help to even the score in the 54th minute on an own goal from Dynamo midfielder Duane Holmes. —ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026

The home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers was earned thanks to a Yerson Mosquera own goal in the 94th minute and the London club secured their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a penalty-shootout victory over Crystal Palace (having conceded in the 95th minute). —Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for own goal

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