technical foul
noun
basketball
: a foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for unsportsmanlike conduct (such as arguing with an official or taunting an opponent) and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent while the ball is in play
called also technical
compare personal foulExamples of technical foul in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hurley was not assessed a technical foul for making physical contact with Ayers.
—
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
After serving his one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season, Luka stepped back onto the court and dropped 42 on the Cavs.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Doncic, who was suspended for Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards because of technical foul accumulation, joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to score 600 points in the month of March.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
As that technical foul was assessed, techs were given to Bane and Booker, who got into each other’s face after the play.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
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Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
After serving his one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season, Luka stepped back onto the court and dropped 42 on the Cavs.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Doncic, who was suspended for Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards because of technical foul accumulation, joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to score 600 points in the month of March.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
As that technical foul was assessed, techs were given to Bane and Booker, who got into each other’s face after the play.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
Cite this Entry
“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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