foul

adjective
UK: /faʊl/
US: /faʊl/

  1. Very unpleasant or offensive.

    1. The milk had a foul smell, so I threw it away.
    2. He used foul language during the argument, which made everyone uncomfortable.

  2. In sports, an unfair or illegal play or action.

    1. He committed a foul during the basketball game.
    2. The referee called a foul, giving the other team a free throw opportunity.

Synonyms

offensive corrupt dirty unfair unpleasant
foul verb

  1. To commit an unfair or illegal act, especially in sports.

    1. He fouled the player as they approached the basket.
    2. If you foul again, you'll be taken out of the game, so be careful.

  2. To make something dirty or unpleasant.

    1. Don't foul the water with chemicals, it harms the ecosystem.
    2. The factory's emissions foul the air, causing respiratory problems for residents.
foul noun

  1. An act that violates the rules of a game or sport.

    1. That was a clear foul by the defender.
    2. The referee's decision on the foul was heavily disputed by the fans.
foul adverb

  1. In an unfair or improper manner.

    1. The game was played foul, with lots of cheating.
    2. He played foul in the negotiation, misrepresenting key facts to his advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "foul" in English means: Very unpleasant or offensive., In sports, an unfair or illegal play or action..

The phonetic transcription of "foul" is /faʊl/ in British English and /faʊl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "foul": offensive, corrupt, dirty, unfair, unpleasant.

Example usage of "foul": "The milk had a foul smell, so I threw it away.". More examples on the page.