Definition

A sport played by two teams of eleven players each, where the goal is to kick a round ball into the opposing team's goal.

Example

The children played soccer in the park every Saturday.

Conversation

Did you catch the soccer game last night?

Yeah, it was so exciting!

I can't believe how many goals they scored in the last few minutes.

I know, that last-minute goal was incredible!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Soccer originates from the term 'association football', which was shortened to 'assoc football' and then colloquially transformed into 'soccer' in the late 19th century in England. The term 'association' refers to the Football Association, which was formed to standardize the rules of the game.

Memory Tip

Think of 'association football' being shortened to 'soccer' — this helps you remember that soccer is a type of football.

Visually Confused Words