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

Even a victory by Mexico’s men’s soccer team over the U.S. in the July 6 Gold Cup final, which would usually inspire fans to spill onto the sidewalks and streets, drew only a few cars waving the Mexican flag. —Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025

Katy, a star soccer player at Lourdes with Division-1 college prospects, now uses a wheelchair to get around. —Miami Herald, 10 July 2025

Many community members mourned the loss of Reece Zunker, a beloved high school soccer coach who died in the flood along with his wife, Paula. —Nbc News, NBC news, 10 July 2025

It was popularised by British tabloid press when referring to the partners of soccer players in the early 2000s, but has since permeated into American sports, including the NBA and NFL. —Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 10 July 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.