personal foul

noun

: a foul in a game (such as basketball) involving usually physical contact with or deliberate roughing of an opponent compare technical foul

Examples of personal foul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The three on defense were a roughing the passer, a holding and a personal foul. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026

So, our kids were overly aggressive with some personal fouls. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2026

Proenza goes 5 yards for the first down but SHS is flagged for a personal foul. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

That typically happens when there’s a personal foul on a team’s scoring play and the 15 yards are tacked onto the ensuing kickoff. — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for personal foul

• afoul
• wildfowl
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• waterfowl