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 foul

Examples of technical foul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The game, which quickly escalated into one of the more intense matchups of the season, saw multiple altercations, technical fouls, and player ejections—highlighting growing concerns over physical play and officiating involving Clark. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 18 June 2025

Mabrey was also hit with a technical foul and avoided ejection. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025

Sheldon was called for a flagrant 1 foul, while Clark, Mabrey and Tina Charles each received a technical foul. —Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025

Mabrey wasn’t ejected but instead received a technical foul along with Clark and Sheldon, who was also given a flagrant 1. —Matias Grez, CNN Money, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for technical foul

• afoul
• wildfowl
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• waterfowl