Foul vs. Fowl — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 25, 2024
Foul refers to something offensive or disgusting, often associated with smells or actions, while fowl denotes birds, particularly those used for food or hunting.
Difference Between Foul and Fowl
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Foul is commonly used to describe unpleasant odors, tastes, or generally offensive conditions, such as a foul smell in the air. Whereas, fowl specifically refers to birds, typically those raised for eating, like chickens and turkeys.
When describing behavior, "foul play" suggests wrongdoing or unethical actions, suggesting a moral or legal offense. On the other hand, fowl simply categorizes a type of animal, without any moral connotations.
In sports, a foul can refer to an illegal or unfair action, such as a foul in basketball, which breaches the game's rules. In contrast, fowl has no relevance in sports terminology and remains strictly in the context of bird species.
Foul weather implies poor or unpleasant weather conditions, potentially disruptive or dangerous. Fowl does not relate to weather but might be affected by it, as birds react to environmental conditions.
The usage of foul often carries a negative implication, affecting senses or social norms, while fowl is neutral, focusing solely on identification within the animal kingdom.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Disgusting, dirty, or morally offensive
Birds, especially those kept for food
Usage in Phrases
Foul play, foul smell
Waterfowl, poultry
Relation to Law
Illegal or unfair actions (sports, crime)
Not related to legality except in hunting regulations
Connotation
Negative (offensive, unpleasant)
Neutral (descriptive of a bird category)
Contexts
Sports, ethics, weather, sensory perception
Agriculture, hunting, culinary
Compare with Definitions
Foul
Highly offensive; unpleasant to the senses.
The foul odor made it difficult to enter the room.
Fowl
Any bird, especially those raised for eating.
Chickens and ducks are types of fowl kept on the farm.
Foul
Constituting or characterized by misconduct or wrongdoing.
The detective suspected foul play in the disappearance.
Fowl
The flesh of birds as used for food.
The recipe calls for the use of fowl, specifically turkey.
Foul
Violating the rules in a sport.
The referee called a foul on the player for tripping an opponent.
Fowl
Birds hunted in wild or domestic settings.
Waterfowl hunting is a popular activity in the region.
Foul
Morally detestable; wicked.
He was accused of foul deeds throughout his career.
Fowl
Refers to the broader category of birds domesticated or wild.
The sanctuary is home to several exotic fowls.
Foul
Extremely bad weather.
They were caught in a foul storm during their voyage.
Fowl
Often associated with domesticated birds in agricultural contexts.
Raising fowl is common in rural areas.
Foul
Offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being dirty
A foul odour
His foul breath
Fowl
Fowl are birds belonging to one of two biological orders, namely the gamefowl or landfowl (Galliformes) and the waterfowl (Anseriformes). Anatomical and molecular similarities suggest these two groups are close evolutionary relatives; together, they form the fowl clade which is scientifically known as Galloanserae (initially termed Galloanseri) (Latin gallus (“rooster”) + ānser (“goose”)).
Foul
Wicked or immoral
Murder most foul
Fowl
A gallinaceous bird kept for its eggs and flesh; a domestic cock or hen.
Foul
Containing or full of noxious matter; polluted
Foul, swampy water
Fowl
Any of various birds of the order Galliformes, especially the common, widely domesticated chicken (Gallus domesticus).
Foul
(of the weather) wet and stormy
He walked in fair and foul weather
The weather turned foul
Fowl
A bird, such as a duck, goose, turkey, or pheasant, that is used as food or hunted as game.
Foul
(in sport) an unfair or invalid stroke or piece of play, especially one involving interference with an opponent
The midfielder was booked for a foul on Ford
Fowl
The flesh of such birds used as food.
Foul
A disease in the feet of cattle
He was indeed suffering from foul of the foot
Fowl
A bird of any kind.
Foul
Contrary to the rules; unfairly.
Fowl
To hunt, trap, or shoot wildfowl.
Foul
Make foul or dirty; pollute
Factories which fouled the atmosphere
Fowl
(archaic) A bird.
Foul
(in sport) commit a foul against (an opponent)
United claim their keeper was fouled
Fowl
A bird of the order Galliformes, including chickens, turkeys, pheasant, partridges and quail.
Foul
(of a ship) collide with or interfere with the passage of (another)
The ships became overcrowded and fouled each other
Fowl
Birds which are hunted or kept for food, including Galliformes and also waterfowl of the order Anseriformes such as ducks, geese and swans, together forming the clade Galloanserae.
Foul
Offensive to the senses; revolting
"a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth" (J.R.R. Tolkien).
Fowl
To hunt fowl.
We took our guns and went fowling.
Foul
Having a bad odor or taste
Foul breath.
Food that tasted foul.
Fowl
Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air.
Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not.
Like a flight of fowlScattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.
Foul
Rotten or putrid
Foul meat.
Fowl
Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey, duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock or hen (Gallus domesticus).
Foul
Containing dirt, impurities, or other foreign matter; foul water.
Fowl
To catch or kill wild fowl, for game or food, as by shooting, or by decoys, nets, etc.
Such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or fowl.
Foul
Clogged or bestrewn with unwanted material
The bay is foul with old sunken vessels.
Fowl
A domesticated gallinaceous bird though to be descended from the red jungle fowl
Foul
Overgrown or encrusted with weeds, barnacles, or other organisms. Used of a ship's bottom.
Fowl
The flesh of a bird or fowl (wild or domestic) used as food
Foul
Entangled or enwrapped
A foul anchor.
Fowl
Hunt fowl
Foul
Morally detestable; wicked
Foul deeds.
Fowl
Hunt fowl in the forest
Foul
Vulgar or obscene
Foul language.
Foul
Violating accepted standards or rules; dishonorable
Used foul means to gain power.
Foul
Very disagreeable or displeasing; horrid
A foul movie.
Foul
Inclement or unfavorable
In fair weather or foul.
Foul
Irritable or upset
In a foul mood.
Foul
(Sports) Contrary to the rules of a game or sport
A foul boxing punch.
Foul
(Baseball) Outside the foul lines
A foul fly ball.
Foul
Marked with editorial changes or corrections
Foul copy.
Foul
(Archaic) Ugly; unattractive.
Foul
(Sports) An infraction or a violation of the rules of play.
Foul
(Baseball) A foul ball.
Foul
An entanglement or a collision.
Foul
An instance of clogging or obstructing.
Foul
A foul copy of a document.
Foul
In a foul manner.
Foul
To make dirty or foul; pollute.
Foul
To bring into dishonor; besmirch.
Foul
To clog or obstruct.
Foul
To entangle or catch (a rope, for example).
Foul
To encrust (a ship's hull) with foreign matter, such as barnacles.
Foul
(Sports) To commit a foul against.
Foul
(Baseball) To hit (a ball) outside the foul lines.
Foul
To become foul.
Foul
(Sports) To commit a foul.
Foul
(Baseball) To hit a ball outside the foul lines
Fouled twice and then struck out.
Fouled out to the catcher.
Foul
To become entangled or twisted
The anchor line fouled on a rock.
Foul
To become clogged or obstructed.
Foul
Covered with, or containing unclean matter; dirty.
This cloth is too foul to use as a duster.
His foul hands got dirt all over the kitchen.
The air was so foul nobody could breathe.
A ship's bottom is foul when overgrown with barnacles
A well is foul with polluted water.
Foul
(of words or a way of speaking) Obscene, vulgar or abusive.
The rascal spewed forth a series of foul words.
His foul language causes many people to believe he is uneducated.
Foul
Detestable, unpleasant, loathsome.
He has a foul set of friends.
Foul
Disgusting, repulsive; causing disgust.
This foul food is making me retch.
There was a foul smell coming from the toilet.
Foul
(obsolete) Ugly; homely; poor.
Foul
Unpleasant, stormy or rainy.
Some foul weather is brewing.
Foul
Dishonest or not conforming to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.
Foul play is not suspected.
Foul
(nautical) Entangled and therefore restricting free movement, not clear.
We've got a foul anchor.
A rope could get foul while it is being paid out.
Foul
(technical) (with "of") Positioned on, in, or near enough to (a specified area) so as to obstruct it.
Foul
(baseball) Outside of the base lines; in foul territory.
Jones hit foul ball after foul ball.
Foul
(transitive) To make dirty.
To foul the face or hands with mire
She's fouled her diaper.
Foul
(transitive) To besmirch.
He's fouled his reputation.
Foul
(transitive) To clog or obstruct.
The hair has fouled the drain.
Foul
To entangle.
The kelp has fouled the prop.
Foul
To make contact with an opposing player in order to gain advantage.
Smith fouled him hard.
Foul
To commit a foul.
Smith fouled within the first minute of the quarter.
Foul
To hit outside of the baselines.
Jones fouled the ball off the facing of the upper deck.
Foul
To hit a ball outside of the baselines.
Jones fouled for strike one.
Foul
(intransitive) To become clogged.
The drain fouled.
Foul
(intransitive) To become entangled.
The prop fouled on the kelp.
Foul
To come into contact or collide with.
Foul
(sports) A breach of the rules of a game, especially one involving inappropriate contact with an opposing player in order to gain an advantage; for example, tripping someone up in soccer, or contact of any kind in basketball.
Foul
(bowling) A (usually accidental) contact between a bowler and the lane before the bowler has released the ball.
Foul
(baseball) A foul ball, a ball which has been hit outside of the base lines.
Jones hit a foul up over the screen.
Foul
A bird.
Foul
An entanglement; a collision, as in a boat race.
Foul
In various games or sports, an act done contrary to the rules; a foul stroke, hit, play, or the like.
Foul
Covered with, or containing, extraneous matter which is injurious, noxious, offensive, or obstructive; filthy; dirty; not clean; polluted; nasty; defiled; as, a foul cloth; foul hands; a foul chimney; foul air; a ship's bottom is foul when overgrown with barnacles; a gun becomes foul from repeated firing; a well is foul with polluted water.
My face is foul with weeping.
Foul
Scurrilous; obscene or profane; abusive; as, foul words; foul language.
Foul
Hateful; detestable; shameful; odious; wretched.
Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?
Foul
Loathsome; disgusting; as, a foul disease.
Foul
Ugly; homely; poor.
Let us, like merchants, show our foulest wares.
Foul
Not favorable; unpropitious; not fair or advantageous; as, a foul wind; a foul road; cloudy or rainy; stormy; not fair; - said of the weather, sky, etc.
So foul a sky clears not without a storm.
Foul
Not conformed to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.; unfair; dishonest; dishonorable; cheating; as, foul play.
Foul
Having freedom of motion interfered with by collision or entanglement; entangled; - opposed to clear; as, a rope or cable may get foul while paying it out.
Foul
To make filthy; to defile; to daub; to dirty; to soil; as, to foul the face or hands with mire.
Foul
To incrust (the bore of a gun) with burnt powder in the process of firing.
Foul
To cover (a ship's bottom) with anything that impered its sailing; as, a bottom fouled with barnacles.
Foul
To entangle, so as to impede motion; as, to foul a rope or cable in paying it out; to come into collision with; as, one boat fouled the other in a race.
Foul
To become clogged with burnt powder in the process of firing, as a gun.
Foul
To become entagled, as ropes; to come into collision with something; as, the two boats fouled.
Foul
An act that violates of the rules of a sport
Foul
Hit a foul ball
Foul
Make impure;
The industrial wastes polluted the lake
Foul
Become or cause to become obstructed;
The leaves clog our drains in the Fall
The water pipe is backed up
Foul
Commit a foul; break the rules
Foul
Spot, stain, or pollute;
The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it
Foul
Make unclean;
Foul the water
Foul
Become soiled and dirty
Foul
Highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust;
A disgusting smell
Distasteful language
A loathsome disease
The idea of eating meat is repellent to me
Revolting food
A wicked stench
Foul
Offensively malodorous;
A putrid smell
Foul
Violating accepted standards or rules;
A dirty fighter
Used foul means to gain power
A nasty unsporting serve
Fined for unsportsmanlike behavior
Foul
(of a baseball) not hit between the foul lines
Foul
(of a manuscript) defaced with changes;
Foul (or dirty) copy
Foul
Thoroughly unpleasant;
Filthy (or foul or nasty or vile) weather we're having
Foul
Characterized by obscenity;
Had a filthy mouth
Foul language
Smutty jokes
Foul
Disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter;
As filthy as a pigsty
A foul pond
A nasty pigsty of a room
Foul
Especially of a ship's lines etc;
With its sails afoul
A foul anchor
Common Curiosities
How can foul weather affect fowl?
Bad weather can impact the health and behavior of birds, affecting their living conditions and productivity.
What is the primary difference between foul and fowl?
Foul is an adjective describing something offensive or unpleasant, while fowl is a noun referring to certain birds.
Can the terms foul and fowl be used interchangeably?
No, they are unrelated in meaning and context: foul relates to offensiveness, and fowl to birds.
What types of fowl are commonly known?
Chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese are common types of fowl.
What actions can make an act considered as foul play?
Acts involving criminal activity or unethical behavior.
Is foul always negative?
Yes, it typically has negative connotations in most contexts.
Can foul refer to something other than smell or taste?
Yes, it can also refer to actions, weather, and moral judgments.
How do different cultures view fowl?
Fowl is valued across many cultures primarily for food and sometimes for ceremonial purposes.
What might constitute a foul in sports?
Actions that break the rules, like hitting, tripping, or illegal handling of the ball.
Are there legal implications associated with the term fowl?
Primarily in terms of hunting regulations and agricultural compliance.
How do people commonly use fowl in cooking?
Fowl, like chicken and turkey, is used in various cuisines, roasted, grilled, or stewed.
What are some diseases that affect fowls?
Avian flu, fowl pox, and salmonellosis are diseases that can affect fowl.
What is considered foul language?
Language that is offensive, vulgar, or inappropriate for polite conversation.
Is raising fowl economically significant?
Yes, poultry farming is a major agricultural activity worldwide, significant for meat and egg production.
Can foul conditions affect the living standards of fowl?
Yes, poor conditions can lead to diseases and low productivity in fowl.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
