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
The vote came a day before a high-profile Israel-Iran game in Tehran that Iran won 1-0 on an Israeli own goal.
—
Deborah Danan,
Sun Sentinel,
29 June 2026
All of this is to say Algeria purposely scoring an own goal late to benefit itself may not be out of the question.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Right-back Jean-Kevin Duverne did brilliantly to beat his man and send in a low cross that Lenny Joseph tried to flick into the net, the ball going in off Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for an own goal.
—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Tunisia got an own goal to give the Netherlands its first point.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for own goal
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Deborah Danan,
Sun Sentinel,
29 June 2026
All of this is to say Algeria purposely scoring an own goal late to benefit itself may not be out of the question.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Right-back Jean-Kevin Duverne did brilliantly to beat his man and send in a low cross that Lenny Joseph tried to flick into the net, the ball going in off Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for an own goal.
—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Tunisia got an own goal to give the Netherlands its first point.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.
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