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
Reaves’ shot went in and the officials whistled Williams for a personal foul, allowing the Lakers guard to tie the score at 47.
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Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Robinson was called for three personal fouls before halftime, too.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
The Thunder were called for 1,555 personal fouls this season, seventh-fewest in the NBA.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 3 May 2026
Queta entered Thursday tied for the NBA lead in personal fouls this postseason, committing 21 over the first five games of Boston’s opening-round series.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
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Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Robinson was called for three personal fouls before halftime, too.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
The Thunder were called for 1,555 personal fouls this season, seventh-fewest in the NBA.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 3 May 2026
Queta entered Thursday tied for the NBA lead in personal fouls this postseason, committing 21 over the first five games of Boston’s opening-round series.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for personal foul
Cite this Entry
“Personal foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal%20foul. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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