English Meaning & Definitions
Offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being unpleasantly soiled.
- “The stagnant water in the pond emitted a foul odor.”
- “He used foul language during the heated argument.”
An unfair or invalid stroke or play in a game or sport, such as a violation of the rules.
- “The referee blew the whistle for a foul against the defender.”
- “The batter hit a foul that landed just outside the baseline.”
To commit a foul against an opponent in a sport, or to make something dirty or polluted.
- “The player was ejected after he fouled his opponent intentionally.”
- “Industrial waste continues to foul the city's main water supply.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “foul”.
Derived from the Old English 'fūl', meaning 'rotten, corrupt, or disgusting,' which shares roots with the Proto-Germanic 'fūlaz.' It is cognate with the German 'faul' (rotten/lazy) and is related to the Latin 'pus' (matter from a sore), reflecting a deep linguistic connection to things that are physically or morally putrid.
Think of a 'foul' smell coming from a 'foul' (fowl/bird) that has gone bad.
Frequently Asked Questions About “foul”
1. What is the meaning of “foul” in English?
In English, foul (adjective) is defined as: “Offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being unpleasantly soiled.”.
2. How do you use “foul” in a sentence?
“The stagnant water in the pond emitted a foul odor.”
3. What are English synonyms of “foul”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “foul”?
Derived from the Old English 'fūl', meaning 'rotten, corrupt, or disgusting,' which shares roots with the Proto-Germanic 'fūlaz.' It is cognate with the German 'faul' (rotten/lazy) and is related to the Latin 'pus' (matter from a sore), reflecting a deep linguistic connection to things that are physically or morally putrid.
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