In football, the penalty area is the rectangular area in front of the goal. Inside this area the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball, and if the defending team breaks a rule here, the opposing team gets a penalty.
[mainly British]
penalty area in British English
noun
soccer
a rectangular area in front of the goal, within which the goalkeeper may handle the ball and within which a penalty is awarded for a foul by the defending team
Examples of 'penalty area' in a sentence
penalty area
Teams need to be patient and probe and change tempo when they get to the penalty area and play quick passes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If an attacking player is not on a yellow card, there is very little disincentive to try a dive, especially in the penalty area.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
In other languages
penalty area
British English: penalty area NOUN
In football, the penalty area is the rectangular area in front of the goal. Inside this area the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball, and if the defending team breaks a rule here, the opposing team gets a penalty.