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 foul

Examples of technical foul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The game got off to a clunky start with two coach’s challenges, a clear-path foul, a technical foul and zero made baskets in the first two minutes as the teams combined to miss their first seven shots. —

Paul Kitagaki Jr., Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025 That drew a technical foul that Shelstad converted into a pair of free throws for a 6-point lead that contributed to the final score. —

Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2025 D’Angelo Russell drew three fouls on Davion Mitchell in 12 seconds, the final of which pushed the Raptors guard over the edge, earning him a technical foul. —

Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025 This incident came after Edwards was given a technical foul over complaining about a call to a referee. —

David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for technical foul

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of technical foul was in 1896

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

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