football

noun

foot·ball ˈfu̇t-ˌbȯl

: 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 : australian rules football

Canada : canadian football

: 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

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.

Example Sentences

He played a lot of football in high school and college.

Recent Examples on the Web This season, coach Karl Thompson had less than 90 students come out for all three football teams — freshman, JV and varsity.

Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2022 Saturday played on a lot of good football teams in his career.

The Indianapolis Star, 1 Dec. 2022 Four Orlando area football teams stand at the doorstep of Florida High School Athletic Association state championship games this weekend.

J.c. Carnahan, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Dec. 2022 Even now, all these years later, the Miami Dolphins next problem traces to a Pembroke Pines Optimist practice where Cheryl Bosa sat between two fields watching two youth football teams.

Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 1 Dec. 2022 Starring opposite Kevin Costner, Boseman played Vontae Mack, a football player hoping to get drafted by the Cleveland Browns.

Karen Mizoguchi, Peoplemag, 29 Nov. 2022 There are documentaries about it, like the story ofManti Te'o, the football player who struggled through a girlfriend hoax.

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2022 The Power 25 ranks the best high school football teams in Alabama regardless of classification.

Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 28 Nov. 2022 The state’s big schools held their state championships on Friday, and now the small school football teams are taking the field.

oregonlive, 26 Nov. 2022 See More

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.