soccer

noun

soc·​cer ˈsä-kər 

: a game played on a field between two teams of 11 players each with the object to propel a round ball into the opponent's goal by kicking or by hitting it with any part of the body except the hands and arms

called also association football

Examples of soccer in a Sentence

Both of their children play soccer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Salles said his next work priority would be completing his five-part documentary about the life of 1980s soccer star and pro-democracy activist Sócrates (Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira), for a launch in Brazil at the end of the year. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025

Under the bill, the commission would explore attracting professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer teams. —Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025

He’s also treated himself to an ownership stake in a number of Italian soccer teams over the years, including AS Roma (his father’s favorite squad), Venezia FC and — since 2021 — the Serie C club SPAL. —Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025

New Brazilian supporters like soccer star Cafu, Maju Coutinho, Marcos Palmeira and Mauro Silva are also featured. —Simon Perry, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

by shortening & alteration from association football

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soccer

• soccer mom
• table soccer

Rhymes for soccer

• blocker
• chalker
• cocker
• docker
• hawker
• hocker
• knocker
• locker
• mocker
• ocher
• rocker
• shocker

Kids Definition

soccer

noun

soc·​cer ˈsäk-ər 

: a football game with 11 players on a side in which a round ball is advanced by kicking it or by hitting it with any part of the body except the hands and arms

Etymology

by shortening and alteration of association football

Word Origin

Soccer is the world's most popular sport. In most countries, however, its name is not soccer but football. In England, where the modern game started, it is usually called either football or association football. The latter name comes from the fact that the rules of the game were standardized when the Football Association was founded in England in 1863. The word soccer comes from the last three letters of the abbreviation assoc., which stands for "association." Although the word soccer was first used in England, the only countries where it is now the usual name for the sport are the U.S. and Canada.