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 foul

Examples of technical foul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo picked up a technical foul late in the game and was visibly displeased with the officiating and his team’s performance. —Austin Meek, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026

Meanwhile, Draymond Green scored 15 and had seven assists against the Pistons, but made headlines for earning his 10th technical foul of the season. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026

Green also leads all active NBA players in technical fouls and passed Anthony Mason for seventh place on the all-time leaderboard earlier this month. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026

Fortunately, the refs didn’t see the infraction, else Miller would have been whistled for a technical foul. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for technical foul

• afoul
• wildfowl
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• waterfowl