noun
Common
touchdown
TUHCH-down
Touchdown (noun) means In American football, a scoring play worth six points, made by getting the ball into the opponent's end zone. Example: “The crowd roared when the running back dived over the line for a touchdown.”
noun
1
In American football, a scoring play worth six points, made by getting the ball into the opponent's end zone.
"The crowd roared when the running back dived over the line for a touchdown."
"After a late touchdown, the home team led by a single point."
"The quarterback threw a long pass for the winning touchdown."
2
The moment an aircraft or spacecraft first makes contact with the ground while landing.
"The passengers clapped after a gentle touchdown on the wet runway."
"The pilot radioed confirmation of a smooth touchdown."
"Touchdown on the lunar surface was scheduled for early morning."
How to use touchdown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a scoring play in football, or the moment a plane or spacecraft lands.
Common pairings
score a touchdown
safe touchdown
touchdown pass
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Word forms
- Plural
- touchdowns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The crowd roared when the running back dived over the line for a _____.
Etymology
A compound of touch and down, originally describing the act of touching the ball down in the goal area.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “touchdown” mean?
The word “touchdown” means in American football, a scoring play worth six points, made by getting the ball into the opponent's end zone. In plain terms, either a scoring play in football, or the moment a plane or spacecraft lands.
How do you pronounce “touchdown”?
“Touchdown” is pronounced TUHCH-down (/ˈtʌt͡ʃ.daʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “touchdown” in a sentence?
Here is “touchdown” used in a sentence: “The quarterback threw a long pass for the winning touchdown.”
What part of speech is “touchdown”?
“Touchdown” is a noun.
Is “touchdown” a common word?
“Touchdown” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “touchdown” have?
“Touchdown” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in American football, a scoring play worth six points, made by getting the ball into the opponent's end zone.
How many points is a touchdown worth in American football?
A touchdown is worth six points, scored by getting the ball into the opponent's end zone. It is the most valuable single scoring play in the game. After a touchdown, the scoring team also gets the chance to add extra points.
What is the difference between a touchdown and a field goal?
A touchdown is worth six points and is scored by carrying or catching the ball into the opponent's end zone. A field goal is worth three points and is scored by kicking the ball between the goalposts. A touchdown is therefore worth more but is generally harder to achieve.
When is an aircraft landing called a 'touchdown'?
'Touchdown' is the exact moment an aircraft or spacecraft first makes contact with the ground while landing. It marks the transition from flying to rolling or resting on the surface. The related phrase 'touch down' is the verb for that moment.
