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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The competition committee has several rules proposals, including: Making tripping a personal foul. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2023

Laura Harper had seen this ending before. Against Pittsburgh on Nov. 25, the Towson women’s basketball team had a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter until leading scorer Kylie Kornegay-Lucas picked up her fourth personal foul. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 13 Dec. 2022

And footage from the clip shows exactly that: Bryant lowers his shoulder into Gasol's screen while guarding another opponent, knocking Gasol to the ground and earning a personal foul. —Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 24 Sep. 2022

Such outbursts are more than a personal foul. —Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022

This slide was just the latest personal foul. —Christopher Solomon, Outside Online, 22 Mar. 2018

Mahomes was hit out of bounds by Bengals linebacker Joseph Ossai, giving the Chiefs a personal foul penalty that moved the field goal closer for Butker to kick with three seconds left in the game. —Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023

Nebraska took advantage of two personal foul penalties to complete a nine-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown reception by Trey Palmer from Casey Thompson. —Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 19 Nov. 2022

By the numbers: 3, number of first downs Vigor had in the first half; 4, number of personal foul penalties called against Vigor in the first half; 6, number of penalties Vigor had in the first half; 17, total first downs for Gulf Shores; 42, number of net first-half rushing yards for Vigor. —Arthur L. Mack, al, 22 Oct. 2022

See More

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1829, in the meaning defined above