football
football
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "football" is /ˈfʊtˌbɔːl/.
Syllable Breakdown:
Foot /fʊt/:
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ʊ/ - near-close near-back rounded vowel
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
ball /bɔːl/:
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: football
Plural Noun: footballs
Uncountable Noun: football (referring to the sport itself)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A sport played by two teams of eleven players with a round ball that may not be touched with the hands or arms during play, except by the goalkeepers. The object of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal.
Synonyms: soccer (primarily in North America), association football
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific sport; one could consider other sports as contrasting, e.g., basketball, rugby)
An oval-shaped or spherical ball used in various games, typically made of inflated leather or synthetic material.
Synonyms: ball, pigskin (informal, specifically for American football)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; one could consider other sports equipment that are not balls, e.g., racket, bat)
(Figurative) An issue or problem that is frequently debated, discussed, or passed from one person or group to another, often without a clear resolution.
Synonyms: hot potato, shuttlecock, political football, bargaining chip
Antonyms: settled matter, resolved issue, closed case
Examples of Use
Books:
"His passion for football was legendary, a devotion that bordered on religious fervor, especially when his beloved Manchester United was playing." (From a fictional novel depicting character's hobbies)
"The history of modern football can be traced back to the public schools of England in the 19th century, where different codes of the game began to emerge." (From a non-fiction book on sports history)
Newspapers:
"Liverpool Secures Dramatic Win in Thrilling Football Match" (The Guardian)
"Local youth football league celebrates its 25th anniversary with record participation." (Daily Nation)
"The proposed new tax policy has become a political football, with both parties using it to score points ahead of the election." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Why the VAR system continues to be a contentious topic in professional football." (Article on ESPN.com)
"Our comprehensive guide to the best fantasy football picks for the upcoming season." (Post on NFL.com)
"Scientists are studying the physics behind the perfect football kick to improve player performance." (Research article on ScienceDaily.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Sports Broadcast): "And it's a fantastic save by the goalkeeper, keeping his team in this intense football game!" (Commentator during a live Premier League match)
Film (Documentary): "This documentary explores the cultural impact of football in Brazil, where it's more than just a game; it's a way of life." (Narration from "Pelé" documentary)
Video Game: (On-screen text in EA Sports FC 25): "Build your ultimate football team and compete for glory!"
Podcast: "In today's episode, we're breaking down all the latest transfer rumors in European football." (Sports podcast, "The Athletic Football Podcast,")
Social Media (X/Twitter): "What a goal! Absolutely world-class football on display tonight. #UCL #Football" (User post after a UEFA Champions League match)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you watching the football tonight? My team is playing." (Casual conversation between friends)
"My son is obsessed with football; he wants to be a professional player when he grows up." (Parent discussing their child's interests)
"Let's go kick a football around at the park later." (Suggestion among friends for an activity)
"That budget proposal has become a real football between the Senate and the House." (Colleagues discussing a political situation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Football
"Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and, at the end, the Germans always win." (Gary Lineker)
"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." (Bill Shankly)
"I learned all about life with a ball at my feet." (Ronaldinho) - Metaphorical/Synonymous, referring to football as the context.
"The problem with football is that you’re only as good as your last game." (Thierry Henry)
"A football team is like a beautiful woman. When you don’t tell her she’s beautiful, she starts to believe she’s not." (Arsène Wenger)
"When you play football, you don't play against opponents, you play against the game itself." (Johan Cruyff)
"In football, the worst things are excuses." (Pep Guardiola)
"My father gave me a football for my birthday when I was four or five. That’s how it started." (David Beckham)
"Football is an art, like dancing is an art, but only when it's done well does it become an art." (George Best)
"The ball is round, the game lasts 90 minutes, everything else is just theory." (Sepp Herberger) - Lesser-known, but foundational to German football philosophy.
Etymology
The word "football" is a compound word, meaning it's made up of two simpler words: "foot" and "ball."
There are two main ideas about why it got this name, and it's likely a bit of both:
Kicking with the foot: The most obvious explanation is that it refers to games where you use your foot to kick a ball. This is the widely believed origin.
Played on foot: Another idea is that it referred to games played "on foot," as opposed to games played on horseback (which were more common for the wealthy or aristocratic classes in medieval times). So, it distinguished these "commoner" games.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The earliest known use of the word "football" to describe the game dates back to 1409 in England. It was used in official documents, like a proclamation, where it was often banned due to the "great uproar" and "tumults" it caused. This suggests that even then, it was a rough and popular pastime.
The first recorded use of "football" to refer to the ball itself appeared a bit later, in 1486.
So, from its beginnings, "football" was understood as a game involving a ball, played by people on their feet, often with kicking involved, and it was a lively, sometimes chaotic, activity!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Football
A political football: An issue or problem that is frequently debated, discussed, or passed from one person or group to another, often without a clear resolution.
Kickoff (a football term, now an idiom): The start of an event, meeting, or process.
To fumble the ball: To make a mistake or mishandle an opportunity (derived from American football).
To drop the ball: To make a mistake, especially by failing to do something that one is expected to do.
To be in the big leagues (from baseball, but applicable to sports, including football): To be operating at a very high or professional level.
To move the goalposts: To unfairly change the rules or criteria of a situation during a process.
To carry the ball: To take responsibility for something or to lead an effort.
Fair play: Honest and respectful conduct, especially in a game or competition.
Home advantage: The benefit that a team or competitor has by playing in their own venue.
Game on!: An exclamation indicating that a competition or challenge has begun.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of football from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
