touchdown
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 quarterback threw a long pass for the winning touchdown.”
How to use touchdown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a scoring play in football, or the moment a plane or spacecraft lands.
Word forms
touchdowns plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The quarterback threw a long pass for the winning _____.
Etymology
A compound of touch and down, originally describing the act of touching the ball down in the goal area.
Synonyms
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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.