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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Following the brief skirmish between the two squads, the refs penalized the Giants' Theo Johnson with a personal foul for 15 yards, neutralizing Dart's scramble for extra yards. Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025 That resulted in a personal foul and an automatic first down for the Buckeyes inside the 5-yard line. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025 The Chiefs received a 15-yard personal foul penalty, and the touchdown was negated. Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025 The hosts’ infractions included a pair of pass-interference calls, an unsportsmanlike conduct, a personal foul and a whistle for targeting. Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for personal foul

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of personal foul was circa 1829

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Cite this Entry

“Personal foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal%20foul. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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