Foul
/faʊl/
Definitions
5 meaningsOffensive to the senses; extremely unpleasant.
/faʊl/
Extremely unpleasant or offensive.
The water tasted foul.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking by a dumpster on a hot day. That smell? That's foul! It's something that's really, really unpleasant.
👶 For kids: Yucky and smelly or bad.
More Examples
A foul smell emanated from the garbage.
The weather was foul, with rain and strong winds.
How It's Used
"The air in the factory was foul with the smell of chemicals."
Involving a violation of rules, especially in sports.
/faʊl/
Characterized by a breach of rules.
The referee called a foul.
💡 Simply: In a game, if you do something you're not supposed to, like tripping someone on purpose, that's a foul! It's breaking the rules.
👶 For kids: When you break the rules in a game.
More Examples
He was penalized for a foul.
The team had too many fouls.
How It's Used
"The player committed a foul during the basketball game."
To bring into collision; to entangle
/faʊl/
To cause to become blocked or clogged.
The grate was fouled with leaves.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to untangle a knot, and instead of making it better, you make it even more tangled. That's fouling!
👶 For kids: To make something messy or blocked up.
More Examples
The ship's propeller became fouled with seaweed.
The engine was fouled with carbon deposits.
How It's Used
"The exhaust pipe was fouled by soot."
To commit a foul against someone, especially in a sport.
/faʊl/
To commit a foul against someone in a sport.
The defender fouled the striker in the penalty area.
💡 Simply: When you break the rules in a game and do something like trip another player, you 'foul' them.
👶 For kids: To break the rules in a game.
More Examples
He was warned for fouling the opposing player.
She fouled during the crucial moment of the game.
How It's Used
"He fouled his opponent during the match."
A violation of the rules in a game.
/faʊl/
An act that breaks the rules of a game.
The player was penalized for a foul.
💡 Simply: In a game, when you do something against the rules, that's a foul! Like tripping someone or hitting the ball with your hand when you're not supposed to.
👶 For kids: When you break the rules in a game.
More Examples
He committed a foul during the match.
The referee blew the whistle for a foul.
How It's Used
"The referee called a foul."
Idioms & expressions
foul play
Criminal or violent act.
"The police suspect foul play in the disappearance."
foul-mouthed
Using offensive or obscene language.
"He was known for being foul-mouthed."
From Old English *fūl*, meaning 'rotten, impure, offensive'. Related to Germanic words with similar meanings.
The word 'foul' has been used since Old English times and originally denoted something unclean or rotten. It was frequently associated with unpleasant smells and actions that were considered morally wrong.
Memory tip
Think of a rotting fish - it smells foul!
Word Origin
"rotten, impure, offensive"