1
a
: offensive to the senses : loathsome
the foul odor of rotten eggs
b
: filled or covered with offensive matter
foul bins of filth
2
: being odorous and impure : polluted
foul air
3
a
: morally or spiritually odious : detestable
a foul crime
4
: indecent and offensive
foul language
He has a foul mouth. [= he speaks in an indecent and offensive way]
5
a
: being wet and stormy
foul weather
b
: obstructive to navigation
a foul tide
6
a
: treacherous, dishonorable
fair means or foul
b
: constituting an infringement (see infringe sense 1) of rules in a game or sport
a foul blow in boxing
7
: being outside the foul lines in baseball
… a foul fly that was snagged by a fan in the stands.—
E. M. Swift
E. M. Swift8
: containing marked-up corrections
a foul manuscript
foul proofs
9
: full of dirt or mud
10
: encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance
the chimney was foul and smoked badly
11
: placed in a situation that impedes physical movement : entangled
a foul fishing line
foulness
noun
1
a
: an infringement of the rules in a game or sport
b
2
3
: an entanglement or collision especially in angling or sailing
4
archaic
: something foul
see also:
fouled; fouling; fouls
1
3
: to commit a foul against
was fouled while attempting a shot on goal
4
: to hit (a baseball) foul
1
: to commit a violation of the rules in a sport or game
2
: to hit a foul ball
: in a foul manner : so as to be foul
Examples of foul in a Sentence
Adjective
the foul odor of rotten eggs
The medicine left a foul taste in my mouth.
The weather has been foul all week.
Noun
He hit several fouls in a row.
Verb
pollutants that foul the air
She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
He was fouled as he attempted the shot.
He kept fouling pitches into the stands.
Recent Examples on the Web
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
On a 1-1 count, Cubs infielder Matt Shaw hit a weak dribbler down the third base line that teetered on the edge of fair or foul.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
The Magic love to give either Wagner and Banchero the basketball on the perimeter, set picks to create size, speed or strength mismatches and then have Wagner or Banchero drive to the hoop to either score, draw a foul or pass the basketball to open outside shooters.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 4 May 2026
CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Harper hacked at a 3-0 pitch and fouled it.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Law Murray, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Lakers were led by Deandre Ayton, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds before being ejected with about 5½ minutes left in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2 on a hit to Sengun’s head.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul
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.
Adjective
After Queta picked up his fourth foul minutes into the second half of Game 5 and was lifted for Vucevic, Embiid proceeded to score 10 points in the next four minutes, powering a 15-3 Sixers run that flipped the game.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
On a 1-1 count, Cubs infielder Matt Shaw hit a weak dribbler down the third base line that teetered on the edge of fair or foul.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
Embiid found some early success getting to the free-throw line, drawing two fouls on Karl-Anthony Towns and another on Mitchell Robinson in the first quarter.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
The Magic love to give either Wagner and Banchero the basketball on the perimeter, set picks to create size, speed or strength mismatches and then have Wagner or Banchero drive to the hoop to either score, draw a foul or pass the basketball to open outside shooters.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Verb
The kick was awarded after Gabriel Pec was fouled by Real Salt Lake midfielder Stijn Spierings.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Harper hacked at a 3-0 pitch and fouled it.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
Four seconds later, Şengün scored through a Marcus Smart foul to put the Rockets up 20; Houston maintained a lead of at least 17 points for the remainder of the game.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Lakers were led by Deandre Ayton, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds before being ejected with about 5½ minutes left in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2 on a hit to Sengun’s head.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foul
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foul. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
foul
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: disgusting in looks, taste, or smell
foul odor
b
: full of or covered with dirt
foul clothes
2
a
: detestable
a foul crime
b
: notably unpleasant or bad
a foul mood
c
: being vulgar or insulting
foul language
3
: being wet and stormy
foul weather
4
a
: very unfair
fair means or foul
b
: breaking a rule in a game or sport
a foul blow in boxing
5
: being outside the foul lines in baseball
a foul grounder
foulness
noun
ˈfau̇(ə)l-nəs
foul
2 of 4 noun1
: an entanglement or collision in fishing or sailing
2
a
: a breaking of the rules in a game or sport
b
3
foul
3 of 4 verb1
: to make or become foul or filthy
foul the air
foul a stream
2
a
: to make a foul in a game or sport
b
: to hit a foul ball
3
: to become or cause to become entangled
foul the lines
foul
4 of 4 adverb
: in a foul manner : so as to be foul
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
