foul

[foul]

adjective

fouler, foulest 

1. grossly offensive to the senses; disgustingly loathsome; noisome.

   a foul smell.

   Synonyms: repellent, repulsive
   Antonyms: pleasant

2. containing or characterized by offensive or noisome matter.

   foul air; foul stagnant water.

   Synonyms: stinking, putrid, fetid

3. filthy or dirty, as places, receptacles, clothes, etc.

   Synonyms: impure, polluted, unclean
   Antonyms: clean

4. muddy, as a road.

5. clogged or obstructed with foreign matter.

   a foul gas jet.

   Antonyms: clear

6. unfavorable or stormy.

   foul weather.

   Synonyms: tempestuous, rainy
   Antonyms: clear

7. contrary, violent, or unfavorable, as the wind.

   Synonyms: adverse

8. grossly offensive in a moral sense.

9. abominable, wicked, or vile, as deeds, crime, slander, etc.

   Synonyms: infamous, shameful, base

10. scurrilous, profane, or obscene; offensive.

    foul language.

    Synonyms: low, coarse, vulgar, smutty

11. contrary to the rules or established usages, as of a sport or game; unfair.

    a foul blow.

12. Baseball.,  pertaining to a foul ball or a foul line.

13. limited in freedom of movement by obstruction, entanglement, etc..

    a foul anchor.

14. abounding in errors or in marks of correction, as a printer's proof, manuscript, or the like.

15. Nautical.

    1. (of the underwater portion of a hull) encrusted and impeded with barnacles, seaweed, etc.

    2. (of a mooring place) involving inconveniences and dangers, as of colliding with vessels or other objects when swinging with the tide.

    3. (of the bottom of a body of water) affording a poor hold for an anchor (clean ).

16. North England and Scot..,  not fair; ugly or unattractive.

17. Obsolete.,  disfigured.

adverb

1. in a foul manner; vilely; unfairly.

2. Baseball.,  into foul territory; so as to be foul.

   It looked like a homer when he hit it, but it went foul.

noun

1. something that is foul.

2. a collision or entanglement.

   a foul between two racing sculls.

3. a violation of the rules of a sport or game.

   The referee called it a foul.

4. Baseball.,  foul ball.

verb (used with object)

1. to make foul; defile; soil.

   Synonyms: pollute, taint, besmirch, dirty, stain, sully
   Antonyms: clean

2. to clog or obstruct, as a chimney or the bore of a gun.

3. to collide with.

4. to cause to become entangled or caught, as a rope.

5. to defile; dishonor; disgrace.

   His reputation had been fouled by unfounded accusations.

   Synonyms: shame

6. Nautical.,  (of barnacles, seaweed, etc.) to cling to (a hull) so as to encumber.

7. Baseball.,  to hit (a pitched ball) foul (often followed by off oraway ).

   He fouled off two curves before being struck out on a fastball.

verb (used without object)

1. to become foul.

2. Nautical.,  to come into collision, as two boats.

3. to become entangled or clogged.

   The rope fouled.

4. Sports.,  to make a foul play; give a foul blow.

5. Baseball.,  to hit a foul ball.

verb phrase

1. foul up,  to cause confusion or disorder; bungle; spoil.

2. foul out

   1. Baseball.,  to be put out by hitting a foul ball caught on the fly by a player on the opposing team.

   2. Basketball.,  to be expelled from a game for having committed more fouls than is allowed.

foul

/ faʊl /

adjective

1. offensive to the senses; revolting

2. offensive in odour; stinking

3. charged with or full of dirt or offensive matter; filthy

4. (of food) putrid; rotten

5. morally or spiritually offensive; wicked; vile

6. obscene; vulgar

   foul language

7. not in accordance with accepted standards or established rules; unfair

   to resort to foul means

8. (esp of weather) unpleasant or adverse

9. blocked or obstructed with dirt or foreign matter

   a foul drain

10. entangled or impeded

    a foul anchor

11. (of the bottom of a vessel) covered with barnacles and other growth that slow forward motion

12. informal,  unsatisfactory or uninteresting; bad

    a foul book

13. archaic,  ugly

noun

1. sport

   1. a violation of the rules

   2. ( as modifier )

      a foul shot

      a foul blow

2. something foul

3. an entanglement or collision, esp in sailing or fishing

verb

1. to make or become dirty or polluted

2. to become or cause to become entangled or snarled

3. (tr) to disgrace or dishonour

4. to become or cause to become clogged or choked

5. (tr) nautical (of underwater growth) to cling to (the bottom of a vessel) so as to slow its motion

6. (tr) sport to commit a foul against (an opponent)

7. (tr) baseball to hit (a ball) in an illegal manner

8. (intr) sport to infringe the rules

9. (tr) (of an animal, especially a dog) to defecate on

   do not let your dog foul the footpath

10. to collide with (a boat, etc)

adverb

1. in a foul or unfair manner

2. 1. to come into conflict with

   2. nautical to come into collision with

Other Word Forms

• foully adverb
• overfoul adjective
• overfoully adverb
• overfoulness noun
• unfoul adjective
• unfoully adverb
• unfouled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foul¹

before 900; (adj. and noun) Middle English ful, foul, Old English fūl; cognate with Gothic fuls, Old Norse fūll, Old High German fūl; akin to Latin pūs pus, pūtēre to stink, Greek pýon pus; (adv.) Middle English fule, foule, derivative of the adj.; (v.) Middle English fulen, derivative of the adj.

Word History and Origins

Origin of foul¹

Old English fūl ; related to Old Norse fūll , Gothic fūls smelling offensively, Latin pūs _pus , Greek puol pus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. run foul / afoul of, to come into collision or controversy with.

   to run foul of the press.

2. foul one's nest, to dishonor one's own home, family, or the like.

3. fall foul / afoul of,

   1. to collide with, as ships.

   2. to come into conflict with; quarrel.

   3. to make an attack; assault.

More idioms and phrases containing foul

• run afoul of

Synonym Study

See dirty.

Example Sentences

Under the order, someone could be fined for failing to refrain from using foul or abuse language if requested to by police or a council officer.

From BBC

The Dodgers’ ability to at least foul off two-strike pitches — they fought off 15 in all — at least got him out of the game after six innings.

From Los Angeles Times

Dalton Rushing, who replaced Smith after he took a foul ball off his hand in the second inning, lined out to move a runner.

From Los Angeles Times

On May 25, her Chevy Avalanche was located off Highway 36, and evidence recovered at the scene suggested to investigators that the mother of four had been the victim of foul play, Johnson said.

From Los Angeles Times

And as it stretched on through the summer — compounded by foot contusion on a foul ball he suffered in July — frustration began to mount.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fetid 
• filthy 
• hateful 
• horrid 
• nasty 
• putrid 
• rotten 
• vicious 
• vile 
• wicked