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.

Dearborn, 62, a former track and football coach, is in his 40th year participating in high school sports.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

In elite football, what defines coaches is how they respond to difficulty.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

"He needs Champions League football next season, so he needs to win this derby."

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Cornella announced "eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Leo Messi has formalised the acquisition of the club", who are in the fifth tier of Spanish football.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 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