footrace: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “footrace” mean?
A race run by people on foot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A race run by people on foot.
A competitive event, often formal, where participants run a specified distance to determine the fastest person. Can also metaphorically describe any intense, direct competition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used and understood in both varieties, but British English might slightly favour the compound 'foot race' (open form) more often, whereas American English solidly uses 'footrace' (closed form). The concept is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though can sound slightly formal or journalistic. Often used to specify the type of race in contrast to, e.g., a horse race or motor race.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both. More common in sports reporting, historical contexts, or formal descriptions than in everyday casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “footrace” in a Sentence
The footrace [took place/was held] in the park.She [won/entered] the footrace.The footrace [was over a distance of] 100 metres.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “footrace” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The villagers decided to footrace for the charity.
adjective
British English
- He's a footrace champion.
- They discussed footrace tactics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear metaphorically: 'The two companies are in a footrace to launch the new product.'
Academic
Found in sports science, history, or anthropology texts discussing competitive events.
Everyday
Used when specificity is needed: 'The festival includes a pie-eating contest and a footrace.'
Technical
Used in athletics/sports contexts to categorise events.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “footrace”
- Spelling as two words 'foot race' (generally accepted but the closed form is standard). Incorrectly using for races involving animals or vehicles.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as one word ('footrace'), though the open form ('foot race') is also occasionally seen and is acceptable.
A marathon is a specific type of long-distance footrace (42.195 km). All marathons are footraces, but not all footraces are marathons (e.g., a 100m sprint is also a footrace).
Extremely rarely. The noun form is standard. One would say 'to race' or 'to run a race' instead of 'to footrace'.
It's not rare, but it's more specific than the general word 'race'. You'll hear it in sports contexts, news reports about competitions, or when distinguishing a running event from other types of races.
A race run by people on foot.
Footrace is usually neutral to formal in register.
Footrace: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfʊtreɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfʊtˌreɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not a footrace. (Used to tell someone to slow down or not rush)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FOOT + RACE = a RACE run on FOOT.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS A RACE (e.g., 'the footrace for the nomination'). LIFE IS A RACE (e.g., 'the footrace against time').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a footrace?