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.
Gordon received a technical foul, along with Harden, Braun, Powell, Jokić and Kris Dunn. Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025 Jokic was issued a technical foul for the Ishbia incident. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2025 The referee did not take too kindly to that and gave him a technical foul. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Edwards took exception to a foul call by referee Ray Acosta, who quickly issued a technical foul. Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Technical foul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical%20foul. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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