Phrase guide

foul play

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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1

noun

Meaning 1

Unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior, especially of a malicious or violent nature.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any violation of rules.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

unfair or dishonest behavior (especially involving violence)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: evil, immorality, wickedness, iniquity

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

40 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 犯規行為 /犯规行为 (fànguī xíngwéi) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Finnish: vilunkipeli — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • French: mauvais coup — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • French: coup tordu — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • French: acte de malfaisance — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • German: Foulspiel — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • German: Foul Play — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Hungarian: bűncselekmény — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Hungarian: erőszak — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Hungarian: idegenkezűség — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Japanese: ファウル (fauru) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Japanese: 不法行為 (fuhō kōi) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Polish: faul — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Portuguese: jogo sujo — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Portuguese: infração — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Portuguese: delito — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Portuguese: falta — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Russian: нече́стная игра́ (nečéstnaja igrá) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Russian: гря́зная игра́ (grjáznaja igrá) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Russian: гру́бая игра́ (grúbaja igrá) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Russian: игра́ не по пра́вилам (igrá ne po právilam) — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Spanish: juego sucio — unfair, unethical, or criminal behavior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 違反規則 /违反规则 (wéifǎn guīzé) — violation of rules
  • Finnish: vilppi — violation of rules
  • French: faute — violation of rules
  • French: infraction — violation of rules
  • German: Verletzung der Regeln — violation of rules
  • Hungarian: szabálytalanság — violation of rules
  • Hungarian: tisztességtelenség — violation of rules
  • Hungarian: becstelenség — violation of rules
  • Hungarian: csalás — violation of rules
  • Indonesian: pelanggaran — violation of rules
  • Japanese: 不正行為 (fusei kōi) — violation of rules
  • Portuguese: transgressão — violation of rules
  • Portuguese: infração — violation of rules
  • Portuguese: delito — violation of rules
  • Portuguese: falta — violation of rules
  • Portuguese: ofensa — violation of rules
  • Russian: наруше́ние пра́вил (narušénije právil) — violation of rules
  • Spanish: juego sucio — violation of rules