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.

He has also had to manage his personal life around his football trips, including marrying his wife in summer to avoid missing matches.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

"I experienced that myself as both a club player and a coach. The introduction of VAR has helped to level things out in Portuguese football."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Stamps and signatures from every home club Tony has visited line the pages of his precious scrapbook, a behemoth record of the ultimate football groundhopping adventure.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

And then there are weather disruptions, the bane of non-league football.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

An eighth grader in a football jersey lurches against my side, and I mumble an apology a split second after he’s gone.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day