First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1foul
adjective \ˈfau̇(-ə)l\
: very unpleasant to taste or smell
: morally bad : very evil
: very bad or unpleasant
Full Definition of FOUL
1
a : offensive to the senses : loathsome b : filled or covered with offensive matter
2
: full of dirt or mud
3
a : morally or spiritually odious : detestable <a foul crime> b : notably unpleasant or distressing : wretched, horrid <in a foul mood>
5
a : being wet and stormy b : obstructive to navigation <a foul tide>
7
a : treacherous, dishonorable <fair means or foul> b : constituting an infringement of rules in a game or sport <a foul blow in boxing>
8
: containing marked-up corrections <a foul manuscript> <foul proofs>
9
: encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance <the chimney was foul and smoked badly>
10
: being odorous and impure : polluted <foul air>
11
: placed in a situation that impedes physical movement : entangled
12
: being outside the foul lines in baseball
— foul·ly \ˈfau̇(l)-lē\ adverb
— foul·ness noun
See foul defined for English-language learners
See foul defined for kids
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Origin of FOUL
Middle English, from Old English fūl; akin to Old High German fūl rotten, Latin pus pus, putēre to stink, Greek pyon pus
Related to FOUL
Synonym Discussion of FOUL
dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure. dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it <a dirty littered street>. filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears <a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy>. foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking <a foul-smelling open sewer>. nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness <it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat>. In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable <had a nasty fall> <his answer gave her a nasty shock>. squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect <squalid slums>. All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity. dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness <don't ask me to do your dirty work>, while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior <filthy street language> <a foul story of lust and greed>, and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness <a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor>. Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness <engaged in a series of squalid affairs>.
2foul
noun
sports : an action that is against the rules and for which a player is given a penalty
baseball : a batted ball that lands outside the foul lines : a foul ball
Full Definition of FOUL
1
archaic : something foul
2
: an entanglement or collision especially in angling or sailing
3
a : an infringement of the rules in a game or sport b : free throw
4
See foul defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FOUL
before 12th century
Other Field and Goal Sports Terms
3foul
verb
: to make (a substance, place, etc.) dirty
sports : to commit a foul
: to commit a foul against (another player)
Full Definition of FOUL
intransitive verb
1
2
: to commit a violation of the rules in a sport or game
3
: to hit a foul ball
transitive verb
1
3
: to commit a foul against
4
: to hit (a baseball) foul
See foul defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FOUL
before 12th century
4foul
adverb
Definition of FOUL
: in a foul manner : so as to be foul
First Known Use of FOUL
13th century
FOUL Defined for Kids
1foul
adjective \ˈfau̇l\
foul·erfoul·est
Definition of FOUL for Kids
1
: disgusting in looks, taste, or smell <In the warm months, a foul odor rose … — Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux>
2
: full of or covered with something that pollutes <foul air>
3
: being vulgar or insulting <foul language>
4
: being wet and stormy <foul weather>
5
: very unfair <She would even use foul methods to get what she wanted.>
6
: very unpleasant or bad <a foul mood>
7
: breaking a rule in a game or sport <The boxer was warned for using a foul punch.>
8
: being outside the foul lines <He hit a foul ball.>
2foul
noun
Definition of FOUL for Kids
1
: a ball in baseball that is batted outside the foul lines
2
: an act of breaking the rules in a game or sport
3foul
verb
fouledfoul·ing
Definition of FOUL for Kids
1
: to make or become foul or filthy <foul the air> <foul a stream>
2
: to make a foul in a game
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