fouler; foulest
1
: very unpleasant to taste or smell
the foul odor of rotten eggs
foul breath/air
The medicine left a foul taste in my mouth.
a foul-smelling chemical
2
: morally bad : very evil
a foul crime
3
: very bad or unpleasant
He was in a foul [=angry] mood.
The weather has been foul all week.
They do their job in fair weather and foul. [=in good weather and bad weather]
4
: indecent and offensive
foul [=dirty] language
She has a foul mouth. [=she uses foul language; she speaks in an indecent and offensive way]
5
: very unfair : not morally or socially acceptable
He's determined to get what he wants, whether by fair means or foul.
6
baseball
: outside the area between the foul lines
foul territory
a foul grounder
Note: A foul ball is a batted ball that lands in the area outside the foul lines.
plural fouls
1
sports
: an action that is against the rules and for which a player is given a penalty
She committed three fouls. = She was charged with three fouls.
a basketball player in foul trouble [=a player who has committed several fouls; a player who is close to fouling out]
2
baseball
: a batted ball that lands outside the foul lines : a foul ball
He hit several fouls in a row.
fouls; fouled; fouling
1
: to make (a substance, place, etc.) dirty
pollutants that foul the air
fouling [=befouling] the sacred waters
2
sports
a
: to commit a foul
She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
b
: to commit a foul against (another player)
The other team has fouled him [=hit him, held him, etc.] repeatedly.
He was fouled as he attempted the shot.
3
baseball
: to hit (a pitched ball) so that it lands outside the foul lines
He kept fouling pitches/balls into the stands.
—often + offHe fouled off several pitches in a row.
4
: to become twisted around (something) so that it cannot move, be used, etc.
The anchor's rope fouled the propeller.
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/foul. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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