Verb

Infinitive to fumble

Third person singular fumbles

Simple past fumbled

Past participle fumbled

Present participle fumbling

to fumble (third-person singular simple present fumbles, present participle fumbling, simple past and past participle fumbled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle
   • Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie
   • He fumbled the key into the lock
2. (transitive, intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
   • He fumbled for his keys
   • He fumbled his way to the light-switch
3. (intransitive) To blunder uncertainly
   • He fumbled through his prepared speech
4. (transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc

Noun

Singular fumble

Plural fumbles

fumble (plural fumbles)

1. (sports) A ball etc. that has been dropped

A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball, drops the ball. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession. A fumble may be forced by a defensive player who either grabs or punches the ball or butts the ball with his helmet (a move called "tackling the ball"). A fumbled ball may be recovered and advanced by either team (except, in American football, after the two-minute warning in either half or 4th down, when the fumbling player is the only offensive player allowed to advance the ball, otherwise the ball is ruled dead at the spot of recovery if the ball bounces backwards or spotted at the point of the fumble if the ball travels forward). It is one of three events that can cause a turnover (the other two being an interception or turnover on downs), where possession of the ball can change during play.

Under American rules a fumble may be confused with a muff. A muff occurs where a player drops a ball that he does not have possession of, such as while attempting to catch a lateral pass or improperly fielding a kicking play such as a punt (you can't "fumble" a loose ball). The result is the same and most announcers will still call it a fumble. Ball security is a term used to describe the ability of a player to maintain control over the football during play and thus avoid a fumble.

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See also:

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