football

noun

foot·ball ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯl

: any of several games played between two teams on a usually rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the ball over a goal line, into a goal, or between goalposts by running, passing, or kicking: such as

British : soccer

British : rugby

: an American game played between two teams of 11 players each in which the ball is in possession of one side at a time and is advanced by running or passing

Australia : australian rules football

Canada : canadian football

: an inflated oval ball used in the game of football

British : a soccer ball

: something treated roughly especially as the subject of a prolonged dispute

the issue became a political football in Congress

footballer

ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯ-lər

noun

Did you know?

The game of US football evolved in the 19th century as a combination of rugby and soccer. The first intercollegiate match was played in 1869 between Princeton University and Rutgers College. In 1873, the first collegiate rules were standardized and the Ivy League was formed. Collegiate football grew into one of the most popular American sports. Professional football began in the 1890s, but did not become a major sport until after World War II. The National Football League (NFL) was formed (from an earlier association) in 1922; in 1966 it subsumed the rival American Football League (created in 1959). The NFL is now divided into an American and a National conference; the conference winners compete for the Super Bowl championship. A Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio.

Examples of football in a Sentence

He played a lot of football in high school and college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

But chats with director of football Kevin Thelwell and manager Sean Dyche convinced him to choose Goodison Park over other destinations. —

Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024 The football star picked up two awards, named the Best Middle Eastern Player as well as the Top Goalscorer of All Time. —

Mikelle Street, WWD, 28 Dec. 2024 Since college football expanded its playoff bracket this season, the 15th game of UT's 2024 season is just the CFP quarterfinals. —

Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman, 28 Dec. 2024 Will Season 2 be even bigger for Netflix? Dec. 24, 2024 NFL fans are used to turning on the the old-school broadcasters for their football showdowns, despite the growing popularity of streaming for on-demand and live programming. —

Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for football