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.

Artan is considered one of the best referees in Africa, having officiated in the Somali national football league championship and at the African Cup of Nations.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Artan's plight is the latest fiasco to hit the World Cup, with Iran's football federation stating on Tuesday that their allocation of fan tickets for the group stage has been revoked.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

A recent study by the Economist showed that 10% of Americans now rank soccer as their favorite sport, making it the third most popular behind football and basketball and narrowly edging out America’s pastime, baseball.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

A state court gave Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss the same relief, enabling him to play a sixth season of college football come August.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

My heart felt like an exploding football in my chest.

From "Fourth Grade Rats" by Jerry Spinelli