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.

A former Yale offensive lineman, he started his career as a high school football coach after an unsuccessful attempt to make the NFL and now describes himself as a “lifelong entrepreneur.”

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

The final hearing has been scheduled to begin Feb. 8, after the end of the college football season.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

As a manager he got this job because he had been doing well domestically in the Saudi Pro League, and the reputation of football there is growing all the time.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

He said the complaint "had nothing to do about my time in football and it never happened".

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

This was a man who could barely stand to lose a game of touch football.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin