Football is a game played by two teams of eleven players using a round ball. Players kick the ball to each other and try to score goals by kicking the ball into a large net.
[British]
Several boys were still playing football on the waste ground.
...Arsenal Football Club.
...Italian football fans.
regional note: in AM, use soccer
2. uncountable noun
Football is a game played by two teams of eleven players using an oval ball. Players carrythe ball in their hands or throw it to each other as they try to score goals that are called touchdowns.
[US]
Two blocks beyond our school was a field where boys played football.
...this year's national college football championship.
regional note: in BRIT, use American football
3. countable noun
A football is a ball that is used for playing football.
More Synonyms of football
football in British English
(ˈfʊtˌbɔːl)
noun
1.
a.
any of various games played with a round or oval ball and usually based on two teams competing to kick, head, carry, or otherwise propel the ball into each other's goal, territory, etc
association football, rugby, Australian Rules, American football, Gaelic football
b.
(as modifier)
a football ground
a football supporter
2.
the ball used in any of these games or their variants
3.
a problem, issue, etc, that is continually passed from one group or person to another and treated as a pretext for argument instead of being resolved
he accused the government of using the strike as a political football
Derived forms
footballer (ˈfootˌballer)
noun
football in American English
(ˈfʊtˌbɔl)
noun
1.
a. British
soccer
b. British
Rugby1 (sense 2)
c.
in the U.S., a game played on a field that is 100 yards long, with 2 teams of 11 players and a goal at each end: the players may attempt to score a touchdown by running or passing the ball, kick a field goal, etc.
d.
Canadian football
2.
the oval, inflated, leather or rubber ball used in playing football in the U.S. or Canada
3.
any issue, problem, etc. that is passed about or shunted from one group to another
But we had to get our heads into football and get used to the atmosphere.
The Sun (2016)
His character and his knowledge about football is very good.
The Sun (2016)
You go and watch football for goals.
The Sun (2016)
English football has lost one of its genuine good guys.
The Sun (2017)
There were no tennis courts or football fields.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The same thing happens in stressful situations such as taking an exam or watching a football game.
The Sun (2016)
Partly for these reasons we continue to have systemic problems at the heart of English football.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
THIS club plays its football in the Championship.
The Sun (2017)
Now, with one or two weeks of football and training, he looks very sharp and the team is safe.
The Sun (2016)
Sometimes we want to play neat football instead of fighting for a result.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Who has the biggest head in football?
The Sun (2012)
It can cost the only goal in a football match.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He came close to giving up athletics and returning to the football field.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Two fantasy football games for you to play timesonline.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This week is simply about winning a game of football.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We showed a lot of character and played a lot of good football there.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One family took their guests to a college football game.
Christianity Today (2000)
His life in football spanned two eras.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The point is that international football unites where club football divides.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The problem with football today is that there is too much data.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The main thing is he can kick a football.
The Sun (2008)
Schools exist but their parents push them to play football instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And then play good football and score goals.
The Sun (2016)
He wants to add his own dash of panache to English football history.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is still mileage in football from European competitions.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Two years in football is a very, very long time.
The Sun (2011)
It's only playing Championship football because of the job me and my staff did to keep us up.
The Sun (2010)
FEEL very strongly regarding this deal with West Ham football club.
The Sun (2015)
Word lists with
football
America
In other languages
football
British English: football /ˈfʊtˌbɔːl/ NOUN
gameFootball is a game played by two teams of eleven people who kick a ball and try to score goals by getting the ball into a net.
American English: soccer
Arabic: كُرَةُ القَدَم
Brazilian Portuguese: futebol
Chinese: 足球
Croatian: nogomet
Czech: fotbal
Danish: fodbold
Dutch: voetbal
European Spanish: fútbol
Finnish: jalkapallo
French: football
German: Fußball
Greek: ποδόσφαιρο
Italian: calcio
Japanese: フットボール
Korean: 축구
Norwegian: fotball
Polish: piłka nożna
European Portuguese: futebol
Romanian: fotbal
Russian: футбол
Latin American Spanish: fútbol
Swedish: fotboll
Thai: ฟุตบอล
Turkish: futbol
Ukrainian: футбол
Vietnamese: bóng đá
British English: football /ˈfʊtˌbɔːl/ NOUN
ball A football is the ball that you use to play football.
American English: football
Arabic: كُرَةُ القَدَم
Brazilian Portuguese: bola de futebol
Chinese: 足球
Croatian: nogomet
Czech: míč na kopanou
Danish: fodbold
Dutch: voetbal
European Spanish: balón de fútbol
Finnish: jalkapallo
French: ballon de foot
German: Fußball
Greek: ποδόσφαιρο
Italian: pallone da calcio
Japanese: サッカーボール
Korean: 축구공
Norwegian: fotball
Polish: piłka
European Portuguese: bola de futebol
Romanian: minge de fotbal
Russian: футбольный мяч
Latin American Spanish: balón
Swedish: fotboll
Thai: ลูกฟุตบอล
Turkish: futbol topu
Ukrainian: футбольний м'яч
Vietnamese: bóng đá
All related terms of 'football'
football game
a game of football
football career
A career is the job or profession that someone does for a long period of their life.
football field
A football field is an area of grass where football is played.
football ground
an area of land where football games are played
football league
an association of football clubs that organizes matches between member teams of a similar standard
football match
a match played between two football teams
football pitch
the field of play at a football ground
football player
a person who plays football
football pools
If you do the football pools , you take part in a gambling competition in which people try to win money by guessing the results of football matches.
football season
that part of the year during which football matches are held
Gaelic football
an Irish game played with 15 players on each side and goals resembling rugby posts with a net on the bottom part. Players are allowed to kick , punch , and bounce the ball and attempt to get it over the bar or in the net
league football
rugby league football
table football
a game based on soccer , played on a table with sets of miniature human figures mounted on rods allowing them to be tilted or spun to strike the ball
total football
an attacking style of play, popularized by the Dutch national team of the 1970s, in which there are no fixed positions and every outfield player can join in the attack
touch football
an informal version of American football chiefly characterized by players being touched rather than tackled
American football
American football is a game similar to rugby that is played by two teams of eleven players using an oval-shaped ball. Players try to score points by carrying the ball to their opponents ' end of the field , or by kicking it over a bar fixed between two posts .
Canadian football
a game resembling American football , played on a grass pitch between two teams of 12 players
fantasy football
Fantasy football is a game in which people choose real footballers to form an imaginary team, and win points based on the actual performances of the players.
football history
You can refer to the events of the past as history . You can also refer to the past events which concern a particular topic or place as its history.
football hooligan
a noisy violent football supporter
football special
a train service provided specially to transport football supporters to and from a match
football supporter
a person who supports a particular football team
political football
a political issue that is continually debated but has not yet been resolved
association football
soccer
football hooliganism
the actions or behaviour of a football hooligan
five-a-side football
a version of soccer with five players in each team
rugby
Rugby or rugby football is a game played by two teams using an oval ball. Players try to score points by carrying the ball to their opponents ' end of the field , or by kicking it over a bar fixed between two posts .
tackle
If you tackle a difficult problem or task, you deal with it in a very determined or efficient way.
soccer
Soccer is a game played by two teams of eleven players using a round ball. Players kick the ball to each other and try to score goals by kicking the ball into a large net . Outside the USA, this game is also referred to as → football .
Chinese translation of 'football'
football
(ˈfutbɔːl)
n
(c) (= ball) 足球 (zúqiú) (只, zhī)
(u) (= sport)
(Brit) 足球 (zúqiú)
美 = soccer
(US) 美式足球 (měishì zúqiú)
英 = American football
All related terms of 'football'
football boots
足球鞋 zúqiúxié
football match
足球赛(賽) zúqiúsài [ 场(場) chǎng ]
American football
[ u ] ( sport ) 美式足球 měishì zúqiú [ 美 = football ]
TV/football addict
电(電)视(視)/足球迷 diànshì/zúqiú mí [ 个(個) gè ]
the football season
足球赛(賽)季 zúqiú sàijì
a game of football/tennis
一场(場)足球/网(網)球赛(賽) yī chǎng zúqiú/wǎngqiú sài
an opera/a football giant
歌剧(劇)/足球巨星 gējù/zúqiú jùxīng
a love of music/football/animals
对(對)音乐(樂)/足球/动(動)物的热(熱)爱(愛) duì yīnyuè/zúqiú/dòngwù de rè'ài
he was struck by a football
他被足球打中了 tā bèi zúqiú dǎ zhòng le
Christmas/the football season is upon us
圣(聖)诞(誕)节(節)/足球赛(賽)季就要来(來)了 Shèngdàn Jié/zúqiú sàijì jiù yào lái le
it was something to do with football
这(這)是与(與)足球有关(關)的 zhè shì yǔ zúqiú yǒuguān de
pool
[ c ] ( pond ) 水塘 shuǐtáng [ 个(個) gè ]
rugby
rugby football 英式橄榄(欖)球 yīngshì gǎnlǎnqiú
NFL
National Football League 全国(國)橄榄(欖)球联(聯)盟 Quánguó Gǎnlǎnqiú Liánméng
to do the (football) pools
赌(賭)足球彩票 dǔ zúqiú cǎipiào
(noun)
Definition
any of various games played with a ball in which two teams compete to kick, head, or propel the ball into each other's goal
a game of football
Synonyms
soccer
There were reports of violence involving soccer fans.
footy (informal)
the beautiful game
subject word lists
See Terms used in (Association) FootballSee Terms used in Australian Rules FootballSee Terms used in American football