foul
foul Lexical Profile
foul Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being visibly filthy.
"A foul odor drifted up from the clogged kitchen drain."
In sports, outside the designated playing area or contrary to the established rules of the game.
"The batter hit a sharp foul ball into the third-base stands."
Wicked, immoral, or dishonorable in nature; violating accepted standards of decency or fairness.
"The detective immediately suspected that the missing businessman had met with foul play."
Wet, stormy, and rough (especially of weather), or extremely disagreeable and bad-tempered (of a mood).
"The ferry crossing was delayed by foul weather and choppy seas."
• noun
An unfair or invalid stroke, piece of play, or physical contact that violates the rules of a sport or game.
"The referee blew his whistle and called a personal foul on the defending guard."
In baseball, a batted ball that settles outside the baselines between home plate and first or third base, or passes outside the foul poles.
"She fouled off three pitches in a row before hitting a single up the middle."
• verb
To commit an infraction of the rules against an opposing player in a sport or game.
"The defender fouled the striker just outside the penalty box."
To hit a pitched ball outside the fair territory baselines in baseball or softball.
"The batter fouled the pitch back into the protective netting behind home plate."
To make something dirty, polluted, or disgustingly filthy, especially with waste or noxious matter.
"Industrial runoff had fouled the river for decades before environmental regulations were enacted."
To entangle, jam, or clog a rope, anchor, cable, or piece of machinery so that it cannot operate freely.
"Thick mats of kelp fouled the boat's propeller near the harbor entrance."
• adverb
In an unfair, dishonest, or rule-breaking manner, or into an entangled or erroneous state.
"Any competitor who plays foul during the tournament will be immediately disqualified."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'foul' (meaning offensive, dirty, or against the rules) with its homophone 'fowl' (a domesticated bird such as a chicken or duck).
• Rhymes for foul
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'fūl' meaning rotten, unclean, or vile, derived from the Proto-Germanic root '*fulaz', which is ultimately related to the Latin 'pus' and 'putridus' (rotten).