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

Ashley Cole won 107 caps for England, seventh on the all‑time list, but felt "discouraged" within the football pyramid from breaking out as a head coach.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Thankfully for Welsh football, Ingle returned to the pitch when her Vale Wanderers coach set up a girls' team when she was 14.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Former Sevilla goalkeeper Monchi also joined as Villa's president of football operations in June 2023 - having previously worked with Emery at Sevilla and winning three Europa League titles together.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

A week later, on October 15, Richard Nixon sat in the White House watching football on television while thousands of protestors circled the building.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin