football

[foot-bawl] / ˈfʊtˌbɔl /

NOUN

a sport

Synonyms

STRONGEST

soccer

STRONG

rugby

WEAK

American football Association football Canadian football grid game gridiron pastime the pigskin sport

NOUN

the ball used in football

Synonyms

STRONG

moleskin oval peanut pigskin pineapple porker sphere watermelon

WEAK

inflated oval regulation football

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But make no mistake - there is another part of the economic jigsaw that is happening right in front of the eyes of football fans worldwide.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Thousands of football fans attempted to shove their way into Mexico City's official World Cup fan zone on Thursday, creating chaotic scenes shortly before kick-off in the opening game.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

They’re playing at home and coached by one of the biggest names in world football, Argentina’s Mauricio Pochettino, former head coach at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

With all 11 US World Cup venues being NFL stadiums, American football is leaving its mark on its rather different namesake.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Darren’s dad taught me all sorts of useful stuff, like the right way to hold the football and how to throw it so it spiraled just right.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff