adj
foul
fowl
adj
1
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."
2
Vulgar or abusive, especially referring to language.
"He apologized for his foul language during the game."
verb
1
To make something dirty, blocked, or tangled.
"Oil fouled the propeller and stalled the engine."
2
In sports, to break a rule through illegal contact with an opponent.
"The defender fouled him just outside the box."
noun
1
A violation of a game's rules, often involving contact with another player.
"The referee called a foul for the shove."
2
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 notesIn 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
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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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.