Foul: meaning, definitions and examples

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foul

[ faʊl ]

^{Context #1}

sports

An unfair or offensive act against an opponent.

Synonyms

infraction, transgression, violation

Examples of usage

The referee penalized the player for a foul.
He committed a foul by tripping the opposing player.

^{Context #2}

language

Offensive to the senses; disgusting.

Synonyms

disgusting, nauseating, repugnant

Examples of usage

The foul smell coming from the garbage can was unbearable.
The food had a foul taste to it.

^{Context #3}

behavior

Vulgar or obscene.

Synonyms

indecent, obscene, vulgar

Examples of usage

He used foul language in front of the children.
Her foul behavior was not acceptable in a professional setting.

Translations

Translations of the word "foul" in other languages:

🇵🇹 falta

🇮🇳 फाउल

🇩🇪 Foul

🇮🇩 pelanggaran

🇺🇦 порушення

🇵🇱 faul

🇯🇵 ファウル

🇫🇷 faute

🇪🇸 falta

🇹🇷 faul

🇰🇷 파울

🇸🇦 خطأ

🇨🇿 faul

🇸🇰 faul

🇨🇳 犯规

🇸🇮 prekršek

🇮🇸 brot

🇰🇿 бұзушылық

🇬🇪 ფოლი

🇦🇿 faul

🇲🇽 falta

Word origin

The word 'foul' has a long history, dating back to Middle English. It originated from Old French 'fouler' meaning 'to trample'. Over time, the word evolved to encompass meanings related to offensive behavior, disgusting smells, and violations in sports. The diverse usage of 'foul' reflects its versatility in the English language.