Phrase guide

false start

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of an athlete starting a race before being signaled to do so.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: jump-start, flyer

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The act of an offensive player moving across the line of scrimmage prior to the snap.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: American-football, ball-games, football, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An attempt at something that does not work, requiring one to start over.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: sortida falsa — starting before the signal
  • Chinese Mandarin: 假起動 /假起动 (jiǎ qǐdòng) — starting before the signal
  • Chinese Mandarin: 搶跑 /抢跑 (qiǎngpǎo) — starting before the signal
  • Finnish: varaslähtö — starting before the signal
  • French: faux départ — starting before the signal
  • German: Fehlstart — starting before the signal
  • Icelandic: þjófstart — starting before the signal
  • Italian: falsa partenza — starting before the signal
  • Japanese: フライング (furaingu) — starting before the signal
  • Japanese: 不正スタート (fusei sutāto) — starting before the signal
  • Norwegian: tjuvstart — starting before the signal
  • Polish: falstart — starting before the signal
  • Russian: фальста́рт (falʹstárt) — starting before the signal
  • Spanish: salida en falso — starting before the signal
  • Spanish: salida nula — starting before the signal
  • Swedish: tjuvstart — starting before the signal