English Reference

Word

footy

UK/fˈʊti/

Uncountable noun Sports

Definition

n. a casual name for football. Depending on where you are, it might mean soccer, rugby, or Australian Rules football.

n. a colloquial term for various codes of football, most commonly association football in the UK or Australian Rules football in Australia.

Examples

“Do you want to watch the footy at my place?”

“The local pub is always packed on Saturday afternoons when the footy is on the big screen.”

“While the term footy is used affectionately across several continents, the specific rules of the game it refers to vary significantly between Melbourne, Manchester, and Sydney.”

Examples

simple

“Do you want to watch the footy at my place?”

contextual

“The local pub is always packed on Saturday afternoons when the footy is on the big screen.”

complex

“While the term footy is used affectionately across several continents, the specific rules of the game it refers to vary significantly between Melbourne, Manchester, and Sydney.”

Usage

Typically used with the definite article ('the footy').

Etymology

Compare Dutch vochtig.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Sports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Occasional
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference