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.
Curry finished with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting and became the 26th player in NBA history with 9,000 field goals. CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 Curry finished with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting and became the 26th player in NBA history with 9,000 field goals. ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026 The Huskies shot 2-for-14 in the fourth and went nearly five minutes to end the game without hitting a field goal. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026 The 3-point field goal, at 19 feet, 9 inches, is adopted by the NCAA. Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 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 6 Apr. 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

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