technical foul
noun
basketball
: a foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for unsportsmanlike conduct (such as arguing with an official or taunting an opponent) and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent while the ball is in play
called also technical
compare personal foulExamples of technical foul in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An opening 8-0 run chopped the Liberty’s lead to 13, but a Reese technical foul halted any hope for a comeback.
—
Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 20 May 2025
Reese fell after Clark’s left arm appeared to push her in the back while her other arm slapped Reese’s shooting arm, leading to a scuffle between the players and ensuing technical fouls.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 20 May 2025
The altercation resulted in no immediate ejections or free throws, while Braun, Gordon, Jokić, Harden, Powell and Dunn all received technical fouls.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
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Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 20 May 2025
Reese fell after Clark’s left arm appeared to push her in the back while her other arm slapped Reese’s shooting arm, leading to a scuffle between the players and ensuing technical fouls.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 20 May 2025
The altercation resulted in no immediate ejections or free throws, while Braun, Gordon, Jokić, Harden, Powell and Dunn all received technical fouls.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
Cite this Entry
“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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