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.

I have periodically had the same “problem” with NFL, college football, and college basketball games.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026

Uniquely among coaches, two of his children, Lauren and Reece James, play football for their country - the first brother and sister to be senior England internationals in the modern era.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

The football fan zone will be held in the Zocalo, where spectators will watch live-streamed games on a massive screen -- with President Claudia Sheinbaum planning to watch Thursday's inaugural match.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Think algorithms are for boffins, not for football?

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Then Mr. Brisbane said, “Just think, last year after Thanksgiving dinner, Jason and I threw the football around the backyard. Now I’m stuck here and Jason is in Tokyo.”

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney