technical foul
noun
basketball
: a foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for unsportsmanlike conduct (such as arguing with an official or taunting an opponent) and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent while the ball is in play
called also technical
compare personal foulExamples of technical foul in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Timea Gardiner hit a critical 3-pointer at 43 seconds, and Kiki Rice made free throws after a technical foul with 17 seconds left.
—
Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Multiple technical fouls were issued to both squads.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2025
The Anteaters took their biggest lead of the game at 51-40 on two free throws by Che after a technical foul on UCSB coach Joe Pasternack with 10:08 left.
—Dan Arritt, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2025
Drug industry allies are calling a technical foul on a Super Bowl ad.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Multiple technical fouls were issued to both squads.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2025
The Anteaters took their biggest lead of the game at 51-40 on two free throws by Che after a technical foul on UCSB coach Joe Pasternack with 10:08 left.
—Dan Arritt, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2025
Drug industry allies are calling a technical foul on a Super Bowl ad.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for technical foul
Cite this Entry
“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share