goalpost

noun

goal·​post ˈgōl-ˌpōst How to pronounce goalpost (audio)
: one of usually two vertical posts that with or without a crossbar constitute the goal in various games

Examples of goalpost in a Sentence

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.
From playground kickabouts with coats as goalposts to Sunday morning scrimmages on muddy park pitches to the velvety green turf of futuristic stadiums, soccer is close to a religion. Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 14 June 2026 Twenty minutes later, Balogun scored again, after shaking off a tackle and sending the ball just inside the goalpost. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 13 June 2026 The part outside the goalposts is also often called the byline. Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 June 2026 The opponent, on home turf, keeps moving the goalpost each time the visitors are within range. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for goalpost

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of goalpost was in 1842

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goalpost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goalpost. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

goalpost

noun
goal·​post ˈgōl-ˌpōst How to pronounce goalpost (audio)
: one of two upright posts that serve as the goal in various games
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