adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

foul

fowl

Foul (adj) means Dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant, especially in smell or taste. Example: “A foul odor came from the abandoned building.”

adj

Dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant, especially in smell or taste.

"A foul odor came from the abandoned building."

"The weather turned foul just as they set off."

Vulgar or abusive, especially referring to language.

"He apologized for his foul language during the game."

verb

To make something dirty, blocked, or tangled.

"Oil fouled the propeller and stalled the engine."

In sports, to break a rule through illegal contact with an opponent.

"The defender fouled him just outside the box."

noun

A violation of a game's rules, often involving contact with another player.

"The referee called a foul for the shove."

In baseball, a hit ball that lands outside the field of fair play.

"He hit a foul into the stands behind first base."

How to use foul

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDirty or disgusting, or (in sports) a rule violation involving illegal contact.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "fowl," a bird — they sound identical but mean completely different things.

Easily confused with

fowl →

Common pairings

foul play foul language commit a foul foul weather

Word forms

fouler comparative, fouled past tense, fouls plural, fouls singular, foulest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ odor came from the abandoned building.

Etymology

From Old English fūl, "dirty, rotten, corrupt" — a very old Germanic word related to the idea of decay.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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disgusting revolting filthy vile putrid rank

Related words

bad nice office total beautiful rate range evil

Rhymes for foul

soul Seoul ghoul Raoul

See all rhymes for foul →

Frequently asked questions

What does “foul” mean?

The word “foul” means dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant, especially in smell or taste. In plain terms, dirty or disgusting, or (in sports) a rule violation involving illegal contact.

How do you pronounce “foul”?

“Foul” is pronounced fowl (/faʊl/ in IPA).

How do you use “foul” in a sentence?

Here is “foul” used in a sentence: “A foul odor came from the abandoned building.”

What part of speech is “foul”?

Depending on how it is used, “foul” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “foul” come from?

The word “foul” comes from Old English. From Old English fūl, "dirty, rotten, corrupt" — a very old Germanic word related to the idea of decay.

Is “foul” a common word?

“Foul” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “foul” have?

“Foul” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant, especially in smell or taste.

What is the difference between "foul" and "fowl"?

"Foul" means dirty, disgusting, or against the rules, as in "a foul smell" or "a foul in basketball," while "fowl" is a noun for birds such as chickens and ducks. The two words sound identical but are never interchangeable, and the phrase "foul play" is always spelled "foul."

What is the difference between a foul and a penalty in sports?

A foul is the illegal act itself, typically breaking a rule through unfair contact with an opponent, while a penalty is the punishment the referee awards for it, such as a free kick or free throws. Commentators therefore say a player "commits a foul" and the other team "wins a penalty."

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