own goal
noun
1
chiefly British
: a goal in soccer, hockey, etc., that a player accidentally scores against his or her own team
2
British
: something that one does thinking it will help him or her but that actually causes one harm
The workers scored an own goal by demanding such high wages that no one could afford to employ them.
Examples of own goal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Icing the Gordie Howe bridge is an own goal.
—
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
When the Seahawks were backed up against their own goal line, Darnold took care of the ball and realized a punt was not a bad outcome.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Luis Suarez, the 39-year-old Uruguayan forward who re-signed for one more year this off-season, scored the lone goal for Miami (the second goal was a Nacional own goal).
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The own goal contributed to Colombia's first-round elimination from the tournament.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for own goal
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Editorial Board, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
When the Seahawks were backed up against their own goal line, Darnold took care of the ball and realized a punt was not a bad outcome.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Luis Suarez, the 39-year-old Uruguayan forward who re-signed for one more year this off-season, scored the lone goal for Miami (the second goal was a Nacional own goal).
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The own goal contributed to Colombia's first-round elimination from the tournament.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for own goal
Cite this Entry
“Own goal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/own%20goal. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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