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field goal
noun
1
: a score of three points in football made by drop-kicking or placekicking the ball over the crossbar from ordinary play
2
: a goal in basketball made while the ball is in play
Examples of field goal in a Sentence
He kicked a 20-yard field goal.
Recent Examples on the Web
The 49ers’ point total (23) was a modest one, in part because Jake Moody missed three field goals before connecting from 44 yards on the game-winner.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Baltimore trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter, 38-38, with six minutes left in regulation but came back on an Isaiah Likely touchdown and two field goals by Justin Tucker.
—NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
The seven-time Pro Bowler has converted 76.5% (13 for 17) of his field goal attempts.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 1 Nov. 2024
The game started slowly with both teams struggling to convert drives into touchdowns, with their kickers – Chris Boswell for Pittsburgh and Greg Joseph for New York – each successfully converting three field goals to make it 9-9 at halftime.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near field goal
Cite this Entry
“Field goal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field%20goal. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
field goal
noun1
: a score of three points in football made by kicking the ball over the crossbar during ordinary play
2
More from Merriam-Webster on field goal
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about field goal
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