own goal
noun
1
chiefly British
: a goal in soccer, hockey, etc., that a player accidentally scores against his or her own team
2
British
: something that one does thinking it will help him or her but that actually causes one harm
The workers scored an own goal by demanding such high wages that no one could afford to employ them.
Examples of own goal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And also the one who started it all off, by forcing Lewis Dunk to put through his own goal for the first goal.
—
Nick Miller, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Less than 10 minutes later, fans at Etihad Stadium were sent into an uproar and invigorated with hope following an own goal by Club Brugge after Gvardiol’s low cross was inadvertently directed into the net by Joel Ordóñez to give City a 2-1 lead.
—Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
Less excusable, ‘CCV’ scored an own goal of his own making against Club Brugge.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Prioritize the development and advancement of your team as your own goal.
—Kathleen Shanley, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for own goal 
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Nick Miller, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Less than 10 minutes later, fans at Etihad Stadium were sent into an uproar and invigorated with hope following an own goal by Club Brugge after Gvardiol’s low cross was inadvertently directed into the net by Joel Ordóñez to give City a 2-1 lead.
—Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
Less excusable, ‘CCV’ scored an own goal of his own making against Club Brugge.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Prioritize the development and advancement of your team as your own goal.
—Kathleen Shanley, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for own goal
Dictionary Entries Near own goal
Cite this Entry
“Own goal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/own%20goal. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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