foul line

noun

1

: either of two straight lines extending from the rear corner of home plate through the outer corners of first and third base respectively and prolonged to the boundary of a baseball field

2

: a line across a bowling alley that a player must not step over when delivering the ball

3

: either of two lines on a basketball court parallel to and 15 feet from the backboards behind which a player must stand while shooting a free throw

Examples of foul line in a Sentence

The ball landed just inside the right-field foul line.

Recent Examples on the Web

Oregon State shot 24 for 52 (46.2%) from the field, 6 for 17 from 3-point range and 13 for 17 from the foul line. —Staff and News Service Reports, Orange County Register, 14 Dec. 2024

Anthony Davis is the league’s second-leading scorer, and as he’s stepped to the foul line, the crowd has serenaded him on multiple occasions. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

Orioles designated hitter Eloy Jimenez, formerly of the White Sox, was at the plate and hit a blooper toward the left field foul line. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 4 Sep. 2024

The ball plopped inside the foul line and bounced into the stands for an excuse-me double. —Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 23 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

foul line

noun

1

: either of two straight lines running from the rear corner of home plate through first and third base on to the boundary of a baseball field

2

: a line across which a player must not step (as when bowling or shooting a free throw)