fair catch
noun
: a catch of a kicked football by a player who gives a prescribed signal, may not advance the ball, and may not be tackled
Examples of fair catch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nixon was ready to fair catch a Houston punt, but backed away at the final second.
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Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Mims was looking up to catch the ball and signaled for a fair catch, but before the ball arrived Charles blasted him.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2024
Whelan later bombed a 59-yard punt that Colts return man Anthony Gould had to fair catch.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Then last season, returners could call for a fair catch anywhere, not just in the end zone, for a touchback, resulting in the lowest return rate in NFL history.
—Susan Baek, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fair catch 
Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Mims was looking up to catch the ball and signaled for a fair catch, but before the ball arrived Charles blasted him.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2024
Whelan later bombed a 59-yard punt that Colts return man Anthony Gould had to fair catch.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Then last season, returners could call for a fair catch anywhere, not just in the end zone, for a touchback, resulting in the lowest return rate in NFL history.
—Susan Baek, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fair catch
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fair catch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fair catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair%20catch. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
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