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.

Inside is a cowhide segment of a game-used football.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

"As competitive as football is, with all the rivalry, it's the same for brands, and everyone's trying to compete to get the biggest stars, and so you need to give more than that."

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Amanda Friedman has projected college football games at cocktail hours, coordinated with DJs to make score announcements and created cards asking guests to please refrain from watching a match during speeches.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

The 54-year-old fisherman from a small village in Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi, has been a superfan of the Argentine football team since the 1980s and adores superstar Lionel Messi.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

He preferred to spend his precious free time playing football with his friends.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo