personal foul

noun

: a foul in a game (such as basketball) involving usually physical contact with or deliberate roughing of an opponent compare technical foul

Examples of personal foul 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.
And a separate personal foul penalty on a third down led to Philly’s last touchdown of the half. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025 Entering Friday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Towns led the NBA with 125 personal fouls called against him. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025 The Irish got virtually no pressure on Will Howard, and RJ Oben got flagged for a personal foul on one of the few times Notre Dame did. Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 On the previous play, Jennings and cornerback Starling Thomas drew offsetting personal foul penalties. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for personal foul 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of personal foul was circa 1829

Dictionary Entries Near personal foul

Cite this Entry

“Personal foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal%20foul. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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