1. Any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal
   "The entire town turned out to watch the championship football game";
   - football game
    
2. [Brit] A football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal
   "Millions of fans watched the World Cup association football final";
   - soccer, association football, beautiful game [Brit, informal]
    
3. [Brit] An inflated ball used in playing soccer
   "The striker kicked the football into the goal";
   - soccer ball
    
4. [N. Amer] A game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponent's goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays
   "The quarterback threw a touchdown pass to win the football game";
   - American football, American football game
    
5. [N. Amer] The inflated oblong ball used in playing American football
   "The quarterback threw a perfect spiral with the football"

Derived forms: footballs

Type of: ball, ball game, contact sport, field game

Encyclopedia: Football, Tactics & Glory