touchback: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Sports
Quick answer
What does “touchback” mean?
In American football and Canadian football, a ruling where the ball becomes dead on or behind the defending team's own goal line, after being propelled there by the defending team, resulting in the ball being placed at the 20- or 25-yard line.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In American football and Canadian football, a ruling where the ball becomes dead on or behind the defending team's own goal line, after being propelled there by the defending team, resulting in the ball being placed at the 20- or 25-yard line.
The term may be used metaphorically in business or strategy to describe a situation where an initiative is returned to a safe, stable starting point after encountering a significant setback or risk.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'touchback' is not used and would be meaningless to most speakers, as the sports it governs (American/Canadian football) are not widely played or followed. In American English, it is a standard, understood sports term.
Connotations
American: Technical sports term, neutral. British: N/A or a confusing Americanism.
Frequency
Virtually zero frequency in UK English. Moderate frequency in US English within sports reporting and discussion.
Grammar
How to Use “touchback” in a Sentence
[Subject: Player/Team] + forced/resulted in/took + a touchbackVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare metaphorical use: 'The failed product launch was a touchback, forcing us to regroup at our core market.'
Academic
Only in sports science or papers analysing American football.
Everyday
Almost exclusively used by fans or players of American football.
Technical
Core, precise usage within the official rules of American/Canadian football.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “touchback”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “touchback”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “touchback”
- Using it to describe any return of a ball in sports.
- Confusing it with a 'safety'.
- Attempting to use it in general English conversation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally neutral-to-good. It prevents a potentially dangerous play in their own end zone and gives them possession at the 20- or 25-yard line with no loss of yardage.
A touchback awards the ball to the defending team (who were in their own end zone) at their 20/25-yard line. A safety awards 2 points to the *opposing* team and requires the team that gave up the safety to kick the ball back to them.
Yes. If an offensive player fumbles the ball forward into the opponent's end zone and it then goes out of bounds, it is a touchback, and the defense gains possession.
No. The concept and term are unique to the gridiron football codes (American and Canadian). Rugby has a '22 dropout' and soccer has a 'goal kick', which are functionally different.
In American football and Canadian football, a ruling where the ball becomes dead on or behind the defending team's own goal line, after being propelled there by the defending team, resulting in the ball being placed at the 20- or 25-yard line.
Touchback is usually technical/sports in register.
Touchback: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʌtʃbæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʌtʃbæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a player TOUCHing the ball DOWN in the BACK of their own end zone to safely stop play.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RESET TO A SAFE ZONE. A RETURN TO A NEUTRAL STARTING POINT AFTER DANGER.
Practice
Quiz
In American football, what is the primary outcome of a touchback?