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football

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The definition of football is a game played on a 100-yard field with two teams of 11 players and one goal at each end, or the actual ball for such a game, or an issue that is passed around.

(noun)

An example of football is the game the New York Jets play.
An example of football is a difficult decision that is not made by one committee and, instead, is passed to another committee to make.

See football in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. Brit. soccer
2. Brit. Rugby (sense )
3. in the U.S., a game played on a field that is 100 yards long, with 2 teams of 11 players and a goal at each end: the players may attempt to score a touchdown by running or passing the ball, kick a field goal, etc.
4. Canadian football
the oval, inflated, leather or rubber ball used in playing football in the U.S. or Canada
any issue, problem, etc. that is passed about or shunted from one group to another: a political football

Origin: ME foteballe

See football in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Sports
a. A game played by two teams of 11 players each on a rectangular, 100-yard-long field with goal lines and goal posts at either end, the object being to gain possession of the ball and advance it in running or passing plays across the opponent's goal line or kick it through the air between the opponent's goal posts.
b. The inflated oval ball used in this game.
Chiefly British
a. Rugby.
b. Soccer.
c. The ball used in Rugby or soccer.
Informal A problem or issue that is discussed among groups or persons without being settled: The issue of tax reform became a political football.