What does touchdown mean?
Touchdown is most familiar as the name for a score in American football, earned by carrying or catching the ball in the opponent's end zone. It also has an aviation sense: the moment an aircraft reaches and contacts the ground after a flight. The term was historically used in rugby for grounding the ball in the opponents' in-goal area, although “try” is now the standard name for that scoring action. Outside sport, “touchdown” can describe an arrival or landing more generally. In American football, it is often treated as a six-point score, making it one of the game's most valuable and exciting plays. In aviation, the word is more technical and refers specifically to contact with the ground, which may occur before the aircraft has fully stopped. As a verb, “touch down” is used particularly of aircraft, while the noun form dominates in sports reporting.
A score in American football for carrying or catching the ball in the opponent's end zone; also the act of an aircraft contacting the ground after flight, or the grounding of a ball in rugby.
"The defense prevented a touchdown during the final series."
In American football, a touchdown is worth six points. The aviation sense refers to contact with the ground rather than necessarily a complete stop. In rugby, the scoring action is now normally called a try.
To bring an aircraft into contact with the ground after flight; in American football, to carry or catch the ball in the opponent's end zone.
"The plane touched down in heavy rain."
Commonly written as the two-word verb phrase “touch down,” although the closed form is also used.
The regular plural is used for individual scores, landings, or touchdown plays.
"The team scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter."
The same word covers both a gridiron score and the instant a flying machine makes contact with the ground.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does touchdown come from?
The compound dates from the nineteenth century in American English and originally referred to putting the football down to score. Its aviation sense developed later from the idea of coming down onto the ground. The word combines “touch,” which comes through Old French from Latin, with “down,” which descends from Old English. Related forms such as “retouch” and “untouched” continue the first element, while “downward” continues the second.
How touchdown is actually used
The American-football sense is especially prominent in North American English. In rugby, “try” is the usual current scoring term. Aviation usage denotes ground contact and does not necessarily imply that the aircraft has come to a complete stop. Verb use is commonly written as two words, “touch down,” although the closed form also occurs.