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The Word 'football'

I had originally thought about opening this discussion in the Sports board, but felt it would be best suited here. This topic is about the word itself, and how it can be interpreted in different parts of the English-speaking world. I know I have had many discussions and arguments with people here in the US about the usage of the word football, because I grew up in the West Indies where football was the game you played with your foot and a ball, end of story.
In the US, football refers to the NFL sport or as some other countries call it "American football". In most parts of the world, football refers to association football or what US natives refer to as soccer. In Australia, however, football now has two meanings; the native Aussie rules football and 'soccer' football. I also learned that in Ireland, there is a form of football referred to as gaelic football.
Wikipedia does a nice job of attempting to define the word and how it is interpreted in many countries. You can take a look at their definition here

What is your interpretation of the word 'football'?

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I find it interesting that Americans call football soccer, but Europeans call our sport american football. Why did we create a separate name for european football. But to the question, football means american football to me. Its NFL football, men bashing each other on the field to get a touch down and win the game. Its a yearly superbowl and the playoffs that lead up to it. Its the Bowl games for the best colleges in the country. Its the Kansas City Chiefs!

The Word 'football' UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

In my opinion, the word "football" means exactly that you are using your "foot" and a "ball" to play the game. In American Football (and forgive me, I do not know much about this sport) don't you also use your hands? I suppose it is hard for Americans to describe it in another way since they were raised with this thought about what is football and what is soccer.

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In Australia football is slowly becoming the round ball game. To me football will always mean soccer because it is the only sport that is truly foot-ball.

NFL uses just as much hands doesn't it?

In Australia we have another sport called Aussie Rules (AFL) which is often called football because ou use your feet a lot. It's similar to Gaelic football but with a larger oval field and a rugby style ball.

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In american football, you do use your hands allot. I think the term started because the game is started with a kick off, which obviously uses your foot. Then field goals and punts are also using your foot. I don't know, its sound perfectly normal to me, but most non-americans who I have met think that sounds rather hokey, maybe it is.

The Word 'football'

Let's turn this discussion up a notch. If we had to pick ONE sport to be called football, which one would it be and why?

The Word 'football'

Football = Soccer.

1) All forms of football around the world derive from soccer, this includes NFL and rugby.

2) It is the ONLY code which outlaws the use of hands and primarily uses feet. The second closest code I know is Australian football or Gaelic football.

3) The overwhelming majority of people around the world recognise football as soccer.