field goal

noun

1
: a score of three points in football made by drop-kicking or placekicking the ball over the crossbar from ordinary play
2
: a goal in basketball made while the ball is in play

Examples of field goal in a Sentence

He kicked a 20-yard field goal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Green Bay Packers’ Don Chandler was the first player to kick four field goals in a Super Bowl. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Louisville built the lead to 28-6 over the Orange (19-5, 9-4) as Syracuse missed all 13 of its field goal attempts in the first 10 minutes. Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026 Chicago went the first six minutes of the fourth before making its first field goal and finished the final period 5 for 17 from the floor. CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 Payton does not regret going for it on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game, eschewing a chip shot field goal. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for field goal

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of field goal was in 1883

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Field goal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field%20goal. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

field goal

noun
1
: a score of three points in football made by kicking the ball over the crossbar during ordinary play
2

More from Merriam-Webster on field goal

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