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
Kevin of Fulham celebrates the team's first goal scored from an own goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson of Leeds United (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on September 13, 2025 in London, England.
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Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
But unlike past governments, manual eradication of coca crops under Petro’s leadership has slowed, to barely 5,048 hectares this year — far less than the 68,000 hectares uprooted in the final year of his conservative predecessor’s term and well below the government’s own goal of 30,000 hectares.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Sporting found itself with a two-goal deficit before an RSL own goal gave the visitors a late lifeline.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
The Browns swarming Joe Burrow for sacks on three consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, driving the Bengals back from the 20 to their own goal line, was an incredible show of force created by a front four that will only improve with more time together.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for own goal
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Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
But unlike past governments, manual eradication of coca crops under Petro’s leadership has slowed, to barely 5,048 hectares this year — far less than the 68,000 hectares uprooted in the final year of his conservative predecessor’s term and well below the government’s own goal of 30,000 hectares.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Sporting found itself with a two-goal deficit before an RSL own goal gave the visitors a late lifeline.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
The Browns swarming Joe Burrow for sacks on three consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, driving the Bengals back from the 20 to their own goal line, was an incredible show of force created by a front four that will only improve with more time together.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
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 21 Sep. 2025.
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