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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for field goal 

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of field goal was in 1883

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

noun
1
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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