football

(general) A sport played on foot in which teams attempt to get a ball into a goal or zone defended by the other team.

“Roman and medieval football matches were more violent than any modern type of football.”

Association football: a game in which two teams each contend to get a round ball into the other team's goal primarily by kicking the ball. Known as soccer in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

“Each team scored three goals when they played football.”

American football: a game played on a field of 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide in which two teams of 11 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory.

“Each team scored two touchdowns when they played football.”

Canadian football: a game played on a played on a field of 110 yards long and 65 yards wide in which two teams of 12 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory.

“They played football in the snow.”

(Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory) Australian rules football.

Gaelic football: a field game played with similar rules to hurling, but using hands and feet rather than a stick, and a ball, similar to, yet smaller than a soccer ball.

(New South Wales) rugby league.

Rugby union.

The ball used in any game called "football".

“The player kicked the football.”

Practice of these particular games, or techniques used in them.

An item of discussion, particularly in a back-and-forth manner

“That budget item became a political football.”

The leather briefcase containing classified nuclear war plans which is always near the US President.

To play football.