football: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Informal
Quick answer
What does “football” mean?
A team sport played with a round ball where players use their feet to kick the ball toward a goal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A team sport played with a round ball where players use their feet to kick the ball toward a goal; specifically, association football (soccer).
The inflated ball used in such games; an oval-shaped ball used in American football, rugby, or Australian rules football; a subject of intense public or media interest and debate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'football' refers to association football (soccer). In American English, 'football' refers to American gridiron football. The British sport is called 'soccer' in the US.
Connotations
UK: Strong cultural and social identity, often associated with working-class culture and national pride. US: Associated with high schools, colleges, NFL, tailgating, and national spectacle (Super Bowl).
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both dialects, but referring to completely different sports.
Grammar
How to Use “football” in a Sentence
play + footballwatch + footballbe + into + footballtalk + about + footballfootball + is + playedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “football” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He footballed it clear from the edge of the box.
- They spent the afternoon footballing in the park.
American English
- He footballed the proposal around various departments for months. (Metaphorical use)
adverb
British English
- (Rare, but possible in compounds) He played football-wise, always looking for the pass.
American English
- (Rare, but possible in compounds) The team performed football-smart, managing the clock perfectly.
adjective
British English
- He comes from a football-mad family.
- The football fixture list is packed this December.
American English
- She's a football widow every autumn.
- The town has a huge football culture.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new sponsorship deal is a major win for the football club's finances."
Academic
"The study examines the socio-economic impact of professional football in post-industrial cities."
Everyday
"Do you want to come over and watch the football on Saturday?"
Technical
"The defender was adjudged offside by the VAR system."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “football”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “football”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “football”
- Using 'football' without specifying the type in international contexts.
- Saying 'I like football' when you mean soccer, to an American audience.
- Spelling: *'futball' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Soccer' is a synonym for association football, derived from 'association'. In the UK, 'football' is the common term, and 'soccer' is sometimes used informally. In the US, 'soccer' specifies the global sport, while 'football' means American football.
Yes, but it's rare and informal, mainly in British English meaning 'to play football' or 'to kick a ball in a football context'. It's more commonly seen in metaphorical use (e.g., 'to pass an issue around').
It is usually uncountable when referring to the sport ('I love football'). It is countable when referring to the ball itself ('He bought a new football') or a specific type of the sport ('American and Canadian footballs have different rules').
American football evolved from rugby football, where the ball was also advanced by foot (kicking) and by hand. The name was retained to distinguish it from other running-and-kicking games, even as the rules diverged significantly.
A team sport played with a round ball where players use their feet to kick the ball toward a goal.
Football is usually neutral to informal in register.
Football: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfʊtbɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfʊtˌbɔl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a political football”
- “move the goalposts”
- “a game of two halves”
- “an own goal”
- “a level playing field”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FOOT + BALL. You play a BALL game primarily with your FOOT. (This works for the UK meaning; for the US, remember they carry the ball, but the name comes from the game's rugby roots where kicking was involved.)
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME / POLITICS/ARGUMENT IS SPORT (e.g., 'a political football').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'a political football' mean?