# football

/ˈfʊtˌbɔɫ/ (US) · /fˈʊtbɔːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/football
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. the sport (American)

noun · CEFR A1 · American English

a game played with an oval ball where players run and throw to score points.

For teachers: American football; a full-contact team sport played with an ovoid ball on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end.

- We spent the whole Sunday afternoon watching football on TV.
- College football remains a massive cultural phenomenon in the Southern United States, often drawing larger crowds than professional games.

Usage: In the United States, 'football' exclusively refers to the American version of the game.

### 3. the physical ball

noun · CEFR A1

the actual ball used to play the game.

For teachers: The inflated ball, whether spherical or ovoid, used in any of the various games known as football.

- The children pumped up the football before heading to the park.
- The referee inspected the football to ensure it was inflated to the regulation pressure before the match commenced.

### 4. a political issue

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a problem or topic that politicians argue about for a long time.

For teachers: A problem or issue that is discussed or debated back and forth, often for political gain.

- The new tax law became a political football during the election.
- The funding for the new hospital has become a political football, with both parties using it to score points rather than solving the budget crisis.

### 5. nuclear briefcase

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Technical

the special bag that stays near the US President to control nuclear weapons.

For teachers: The briefcase containing the authentication codes and equipment required to authorise a nuclear attack. Always takes 'the'.

- A military aide always carries the football near the president.
- The existence of the nuclear football ensures that the commander-in-chief maintains command and control over the nation's arsenal at all times.

## Examples

- The children play football in the park every Saturday.
- The local stadium was packed with fans wearing team colors for the final football match of the season.
- While the technical requirements of professional football have evolved, the sport remains fundamentally a test of collective strategy and physical endurance played out over ninety minutes of high-intensity competition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.