# foul

/ˈfaʊɫ/ (US) · /fˈaʊl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. dirty or smelly

adjective · CEFR B1

having a very bad smell or being very dirty.

For teachers: containing or covered with offensive or unclean matter; physically loathsome or putrid.

- A foul smell was coming from the old bin in the kitchen.
- The hikers were forced to turn back when they encountered the foul, stagnant water of the marshland.

### 2. bad weather

adjective · CEFR B2

stormy, rainy, or generally unpleasant weather.

For teachers: pertaining to weather conditions that are stormy, turbulent, or otherwise unfavourable for travel.

- The ship stayed in the harbour because of the foul weather at sea.
- Despite the foul weather forecast, the rescue team proceeded toward the summit to locate the stranded climbers.

### 3. rude language

adjective · CEFR B2

using rude, offensive, or socially unacceptable words.

For teachers: characterised by obscene, vulgar, or abusive language.

- He was sent out of the classroom for using foul language.
- The broadcast was interrupted after the interviewee began using foul language during the live segment.

### 4. unfair

adjective · CEFR B2

not following the rules or being dishonest.

For teachers: violating the established rules of a game or the standards of fair play.

- The politician was accused of using foul means to win the election.
- The referee ruled that the defender had used foul tactics to prevent the striker from reaching the ball.

### 5. to make dirty

verb · CEFR B2

to make something dirty, especially with waste.

For teachers: to contaminate or defile something with unclean matter.

- Dogs are not allowed on the beach so they don't foul the sand.
- Industrial runoff continued to foul the river, making the water toxic for the local fish population.

### 6. to block or tangle

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to block a pipe or get a rope tangled up.

For teachers: to obstruct or clog a passage; in a nautical context, to become entangled or caught.

- The anchor line became fouled on some rocks under the water.
- The mechanic explained that carbon deposits had fouled the spark plugs, causing the engine to misfire during acceleration.

### 7. to break sports rules

verb · CEFR B1

to commit an unfair act against another player in a game.

For teachers: to commit an infraction against an opponent or the rules of play in a sporting contest.

- The defender fouled the striker just outside the penalty area.
- He was careful not to foul the shooter, knowing that any contact would result in two free throws for the opposing team.

### 8. a rule break

noun · CEFR B1

an action in a game that is against the rules.

For teachers: an instance of breaking the rules in a sport, often involving illegal physical contact.

- The referee blew his whistle and called a foul on the blue team.
- After committing his fifth personal foul, the star player was forced to leave the game for the remaining minutes.

## Examples

- The referee called a foul after the player tripped his opponent.
- He committed a professional foul to stop the striker from reaching the goal during the final minutes of the match.
- The game became increasingly aggressive as both teams accumulated multiple fouls, eventually forcing the officials to issue several yellow cards to maintain control of the pitch.

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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.