free kick

noun

: a kick (as in football, soccer, or rugby) with which an opponent may not interfere
especially : such a kick in any direction awarded because of an infraction of the rules by an opponent

Examples of free kick in a Sentence

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.
Such is the expectancy around Arsenal now, a 1-0 loss to a bewitching free kick, the kind of sudden inspiration that decides a close and claustrophobic game, hit the team hard. Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025 Following a Tulsa free kick late in the opening half, Athletic defender Joe Farrell, while trying to knock the ball away, accidentally knocked it into his own net for a brief 1-0 Tulsa lead. From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025 Cristian Espinoza played a free kick to Judd in the center of the area for a header, but goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made a diving one-hand parry before Arango slammed home the putback from point-blank range. Jon Becker, Mercury News, 20 July 2025 Then in the 77th minute Beckham bent the ball on a free kick to Álvaro Mejía, who headed it into the Chivas goal to tie the score. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for free kick

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free kick was in 1862

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Free kick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20kick. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

free kick

noun
: a kick (as in football or soccer) with which an opponent may not interfere
also : such a kick awarded because an opponent has broken the rules

More from Merriam-Webster on free kick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!