noun
football
An American team game in which players advance an oval ball to score, or the ball used.
The quarterback throws the football to a teammate near midfield.
Etymology
Football combines the body-part name with ball. American football inherited the name from earlier games involving kicking and carrying the ball, retaining it for both the game and its equipment.
More examples
- Our high school football team practices in helmets and pads.
- A touchdown is worth six points in football.
- The coach keeps three footballs in a mesh bag.
Forms
football · footballs
Similar words
- pigskin
- An informal name for the ball, not the game.