field goal

English

Noun

field goal (plural field goals)

1. (American football, Canadian football) When the ball is kicked through the uprights and over the crossbar (not after a touchdown) for 3 points.

   He kicked a 33 yard field goal just before the half.

   • 2016 January 24, Les Chappell, “TV: Review: The Simpsons (Classic), “Natural Born Kissers” (season nine, episode 25, originally aired 05/17/1998)”, in The Onion AV Club‎^[1]:

     Sure, Homer and Marge being caught naked in front of the town is funny, but why not make it total humiliation? Why not have Homer dragged ass-first over a church’s glass ceiling and force the pastor to give praise to God’s floors? Why not have Homer’s rear end block a game-winning field goal?

2. (basketball) A made shot that was not a free throw.

   He got six field goals in the first half, two from three-point land.

3. (rugby) A goal scored where a ball that is in play but on the ground is kicked through the uprights and over the crossbar.

Alternative forms

• drop-kick (North American rules football)
• field-goal (Basketball and North American rules football)

Coordinate terms

(football):

• conversion
• drop punt
• punt