football
Pluralfootballs (some meanings)
Pluralfootballs (some meanings)
Formsfootballs, footballing, footballed
- 1A team game where players try to move an oval ball into the other team's end zone by running or throwing.
Millions of Americans watch football every Sunday in the fall.
He played football in college before turning pro.
UsageOutside America, say American football so people know which game you mean.
Similargridiron
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- 2A team sport where players try to get a ball into the other team's goal, or the way it is played.
Like a big family of games: each cousin plays a little differently, but they all chase a ball.
In every kind of football, two teams try to score with a ball.
Children everywhere grow up playing some form of football.
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- 3A team game where two sides try to kick a round ball into the other team's goal.
Football is the most watched sport across Europe and South America.
He spent every Saturday playing football on the local pitch.
UsageSay play football (not
incorrect: play the football). A football is the ball.Similarsoccer
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- 4The ball that players use in any game called football, often round or oval depending on the sport.
He kicked the football over the fence.
She pumped some air into the football before the match.
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- 5A team game like American football, but with twelve players on a longer, wider field.
Canadian football is hugely popular in cities like Winnipeg and Calgary.
He grew up playing football in Saskatchewan.
UsageFor people from other countries, say Canadian football.
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- 6A fast Australian team game played on a large oval field, where players kick or punch a ball to score.
Football is a way of life in Melbourne.
Her brother kicked four goals in his Australian football match on Saturday.
UsageFor people from other countries, say Australian rules football.
Similarfooty
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- 7An Irish team game where players use hands and feet to send a round ball into goals or over crossbars.
Gaelic football is one of Ireland's most beloved sports.
He played football for his county before turning to coaching.
UsageFor people from other countries, say Gaelic football.
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Less common meanings
- 8A name for rugby (rugby league or rugby union) in places where it is the main kind of football.
Saturday afternoons were for football, mud, and the crunch of rugby tackles.
He spent his youth playing football for the local rugby club.
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- 9Something that people keep passing back and forth in an argument instead of dealing with it.
Like a ball that two people keep throwing to each other so neither has to hold it.
Healthcare reform became a political football during the election.
They turned the budget into a football, tossing blame back and forth.
UsageUsually a political football, often after become: it became a political football.
Similarhot potato
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- 10A briefcase carried near the US President that holds secret plans for launching nuclear war.
A military aide carried the football a few steps behind the President.
The football is never far from the President, even on vacation.
UsageOften called the nuclear football so no one thinks of sport.
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- 11To take part in a game of football.
It was an announcement of the outbreak of what is now termed World War I. Some of us lads were footballing when we heard the news. It left us bewildered.
1969, Alec Hugh Chisholm, The Joy of the EarthHere, footballing means playing football.UsageMost people say play football instead.
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Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English fotbal, from foot + ball. It may come from kicking a ball with the feet, or from playing the game on foot rather than on horseback.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Football derives from Middle English fotbal, a compound of foot and ball. en.wiktionary.org
- The name may refer to kicking a ball with the feet. en.wikipedia.org
- An alternative explanation connects the name with playing on foot rather than on horseback. en.wikipedia.org