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.

The 54-year-old fisherman from a small village in Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi, has been a superfan of the Argentine football team since the 1980s and adores superstar Lionel Messi.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

Inside is a cowhide segment of a game-used football.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

That tournament had a significant and lasting impact on the football culture in the country, boosting its popularity and paving the way for the creation of Major League Soccer.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Once completed, the facility will cover an area equivalent to 70 football fields.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Only a handful of people are huddled near the holographic pucks, discussing animatedly among themselves like my teachers debating about who the worst football team is.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer