Definition of FOOTBALL

any of several games played between two teams on a usually rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the… See the full definition

football

noun

Save Word

foot·ball

ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯl

Definition of

football

:

any of several games played between two teams on a usually rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the ball over a goal line, into a goal, or between goalposts by running, passing, or kicking: such as

British

:

soccer

British

:

rugby

:

an American game played between two teams of 11 players each in which the ball is in possession of one side at a time and is advanced by running or passing

Australia

Canada

:

canadian football

2

a

:

an inflated oval ball used in the game of football

British

:

a soccer ball

:

something treated roughly especially as the subject of a prolonged dispute

the issue became a political

football

in Congress

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from

football

footballer

ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯ-lər

noun

Did You Know?

The game of US football evolved in the 19th century as a combination of rugby and soccer. The first intercollegiate match was played in 1869 between Princeton University and Rutgers College. In 1873, the first collegiate rules were standardized and the Ivy League was formed. Collegiate football grew into one of the most popular American sports. Professional football began in the 1890s, but did not become a major sport until after World War II. The National Football League (NFL) was formed (from an earlier association) in 1922; in 1966 it subsumed the rival American Football League (created in 1959). The NFL is now divided into an American and a National conference; the conference winners compete for the Super Bowl championship. A Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio.

Examples of

football

in a Sentence

He played a lot of

football

in high school and college.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1995, quarterback Joe Montana retired from professional

football

.

—

BostonGlobe.com

, “Today in History,” 18 Apr. 2021

Last month, some held a sit-in at LSU’s

football

operations building.

—

Brett Martel,

ajc

, “LSU reeling from ongoing reviews of sexual misconduct cases,” 17 Apr. 2021

South Bend Tribune SOUTH BEND — Successful college

football

recruiting requires innovation.

—

Tyler James,

The Indianapolis Star

, “How Notre Dame football keeps pushing to evolve its recruiting efforts,” 17 Apr. 2021

After Friday’s 10-3 win over Cleveland, Joey Votto showed up to his post-game press conference in a

football

jersey.

—

Bobby Nightengale,

The Enquirer

, “Joey Votto wears Kyle Farmer’s high school football jersey after Cincinnati Reds win,” 17 Apr. 2021

The weekend includes baseball games at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium, the maroon-white

football

scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, Old Main Music and Cotton Districts Arts festivals.

—

Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com,

al

, “Mississippi State’s Maroon-White game live stream (4/17): How to watch online, TV, time,” 17 Apr. 2021

Here are Friday’s

football

scores and today’s schedule.

—

Los Angeles Times

, “Prep Rally: Friday night’s high school football scores,” 17 Apr. 2021

Ohio State caps off spring

football

in 2021 with its annual spring game.

—

Tim Bielik,

cleveland

, “Ohio State football spring game FREE LIVE STREAM (4/17/21): How to watch, TV | C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, Kyle McCord,” 17 Apr. 2021

But his non-stop motor, and high

football

character gives Collins a chance to become a Day 1 starter, one who should be able to anchor a defense once the speed of the game slows down for him.

—

Omar Kelly,

sun-sentinel.com

, “NFL draft prospects you should want on Dolphins, or your favorite team: Omar Kelly’s 2021 man-crush list,” 17 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘football.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.

Send us feedback

.