technical foul

noun

basketball

: a foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for unsportsmanlike conduct (such as arguing with an official or taunting an opponent) and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent while the ball is in play

called also technical

compare personal foul

Examples of technical foul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first over-the-back foul was called on him in overtime against Memphis, causing Hurley to fall to the floor in disbelief and pick up his first – and only (so far) – technical foul of the season. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025

Collins fouled out with 9:44 remaining and Smith followed barely 90 seconds later, picking up a technical foul on his way off the court that resulted in his ejection. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025

The tactic led to head coach Michael Malone intentionally taking a technical foul less than a minute into the Nuggets’ game at Detroit. —Aaron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2025

After the officials missed a clear traveling call on Ball, Steve Kerr picked up a technical foul. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for technical foul

• afoul
• wildfowl
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• waterfowl