soccer

noun

soc·​cer ˈsä-kər 

: a game played on a field between two teams of 11 players each with the object to propel a round ball into the opponent's goal by kicking or by hitting it with any part of the body except the hands and arms

called also association football, football

Examples of soccer in a Sentence

Both of their children play soccer.

Recent Examples on the Web

What does Lujano also like about soccer? —Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026

The old adage in soccer is that a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous in the game. —Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 19 Mar. 2026

Marcus Ziemer, the eldest brother of a Bay Area soccer coaching dynasty and longtime head coach of the Sonoma State University men's soccer team before the school eliminated athletics last year, died in Germany early Tuesday morning after a weekend accident. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026

The area has undergone a significant amount of development in recent months, and will soon play host as thousands of soccer fans descend on Atlanta in June and July for the World Cup at Mercedes-Benz. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

by shortening & alteration from association football

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soccer

• soccer mom
• table soccer

Rhymes for soccer

• blocker
• chalker
• cocker
• docker
• hawker
• hocker
• knocker
• locker
• mocker
• ocher
• rocker
• shocker

Kids Definition

soccer

noun

soc·​cer ˈsäk-ər 

: a football game with 11 players on a side in which a round ball is advanced by kicking it or by hitting it with any part of the body except the hands and arms

Etymology

by shortening and alteration of association football

Word Origin

Soccer is the world's most popular sport. In most countries, however, its name is not soccer but football. In England, where the modern game started, it is usually called either football or association football. The latter name comes from the fact that the rules of the game were standardized when the Football Association was founded in England in 1863. The word soccer comes from the last three letters of the abbreviation assoc., which stands for "association." Although the word soccer was first used in England, the only countries where it is now the usual name for the sport are the U.S. and Canada.