1
a
: offensive to the senses : loathsome
the foul odor of rotten eggs
b
: filled or covered with offensive matter
foul bins of filth
2
: being odorous and impure : polluted
foul air
3
a
: morally or spiritually odious : detestable
a foul crime
5
a
: being wet and stormy
foul weather
b
: obstructive to navigation
a foul tide
6
a
: treacherous, dishonorable
fair means or foul
b
: constituting an infringement (see infringe sense 1) of rules in a game or sport
a foul blow in boxing
7
: being outside the foul lines in baseball
… a foul fly that was snagged by a fan in the stands.—
E. M. Swift
E. M. Swift8
: containing marked-up corrections
a foul manuscript
foul proofs
9
: full of dirt or mud
10
: encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance
the chimney was foul and smoked badly
11
: placed in a situation that impedes physical movement : entangled
a foul fishing line
foulness
noun
1
a
: an infringement of the rules in a game or sport
b
2
3
: an entanglement or collision especially in angling or sailing
4
archaic
: something foul
fouled; fouling; fouls
1
3
: to commit a foul against
4
: to hit (a baseball) foul
1
: to commit a violation of the rules in a sport or game
2
: to hit a foul ball
: in a foul manner : so as to be foul
Synonyms
Examples of foul in a Sentence
Adjective
the foul odor of rotten eggs
The medicine left a foul taste in my mouth.
The weather has been foul all week.
Noun
He hit several fouls in a row.
Verb
pollutants that foul the air
She fouled on her first long jump attempt.
He was fouled as he attempted the shot.
He kept fouling pitches into the stands.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
In the first inning of Game 4 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, Betts, in right field, sprinted into foul ground and caught a pop-up before a fan in a gray Yankees road jersey reached out and tried to rip the ball out of his glove.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
That play was ultimately shut down because of a foul on Alphonso Davies in the buildup.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
The Nuggets were trying to chip away early in the fourth quarter when Westbrook fouled Scottie Barnes hard in mid-air to prevent a fast-break layup, prompting a confrontation between Barnes and Aaron Gordon.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2024
Doha Madani, NBC News, 21 Oct. 2024
Chubb has started to fight back, calling foul on the CJCC.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for foul 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adjective
These mussels can clog critical water intakes and fish screens and also foul major pipes relied on for water supply.
—Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
In the first inning of Game 4 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, Betts, in right field, sprinted into foul ground and caught a pop-up before a fan in a gray Yankees road jersey reached out and tried to rip the ball out of his glove.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
After some gamesmanship from Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, the NBA retroactively upgraded Draymond Green’s take foul on Zach Edey from Friday night’s game to a Flagrant 1.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
That play was ultimately shut down because of a foul on Alphonso Davies in the buildup.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Waters fouled a 3-point shooter in the opening minutes, but made up for it by hitting a pair of 3s on the other end.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
The Nuggets were trying to chip away early in the fourth quarter when Westbrook fouled Scottie Barnes hard in mid-air to prevent a fast-break layup, prompting a confrontation between Barnes and Aaron Gordon.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2024
Adverb
The foul allowed Stewart to tie the game with two free throws, clearing the way for the Liberty to rally in extra time and win 67-62.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 21 Oct. 2024
Chubb has started to fight back, calling foul on the CJCC.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for foul
Dictionary Entries Near foul
Cite this Entry
“Foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foul. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
foul
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: disgusting in looks, taste, or smell
foul odor
b
: full of or covered with dirt
foul clothes
2
a
: detestable
a foul crime
b
: notably unpleasant or bad
a foul mood
c
: being vulgar or insulting
foul language
3
: being wet and stormy
foul weather
4
a
: very unfair
fair means or foul
b
: breaking a rule in a game or sport
a foul blow in boxing
5
: being outside the foul lines in baseball
a foul grounder
foulness
noun
ˈfau̇(ə)l-nəs
foul
2 of 4 noun1
: an entanglement or collision in fishing or sailing
2
a
: a breaking of the rules in a game or sport
b
3
foul
3 of 4 verb1
: to make or become foul or filthy
foul the air
foul a stream
2
a
: to make a foul in a game or sport
b
: to hit a foul ball
3
: to become or cause to become entangled
foul the lines
foul
4 of 4 adverb
: in a foul manner : so as to be foul
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