technical foul
noun
basketball
: a foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for unsportsmanlike conduct (such as arguing with an official or taunting an opponent) and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent while the ball is in play
called also technical
compare personal foulExamples of technical foul in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After the game that featured five technical fouls and thee ejections, players from both teams jawed back and forth near midcourt.
—
Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Upset over a bizarre technical foul in Game 2, Booker unloaded on the refs, particularly James Williams.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Thunder guard Alex Caruso was seen calling for a technical foul.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Booker was assessed a technical foul in the third quarter for arguing calls.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
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Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Upset over a bizarre technical foul in Game 2, Booker unloaded on the refs, particularly James Williams.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Thunder guard Alex Caruso was seen calling for a technical foul.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Booker was assessed a technical foul in the third quarter for arguing calls.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
Cite this Entry
“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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