球為橢圓形狀，由兩組各十一人的隊伍在劃有垂直碼線、稱做「烤盤」的長方形球場上進行之運動。由英式橄欖球和足球（英式足球）演化而來；與足球最大的不同處在於，橄欖球球員可以雙手碰觸投擲球、並環抱球移動，與英式橄欖球不同的地方則是，橄欖球可雙方輪流交換球權。發源於美國。

美式足球(運動)　(P,,U,繁體中文-偏好,D,U,U)
橄欖球(運動)　(,U,繁體中文-非偏好,UF,,)
mei shih tsu ch'iu (P,,U,韋氏拼音-偏好,UF,U,U)
měi shì zú qiú (P,,U,漢語拼音-偏好,UF,U,U)
mei shi zu qiu (P,,U,漢語拼音(無聲調)-偏好,UF,U,U)
gridiron football(,U,英文-非偏好,UF,U,U)
football(sports)　(P,,U,美式英語-偏好,D,U,U)
American football(P,,U,British English-偏好,D,U,U)
American football(sport)　(P,,U,荷蘭語-偏好,D,U,U)
fútbol americano(P,,U,西班牙語-偏好,D,U,U)

藝術與建築詞典根目錄
....活動層面
........身體與心智活動
............<體育活動>
................<依特定背景區分之體育活動>
....................<依地點區分之身體活動>
........................球場運動
............................美式足球 (運動)

藝術與建築詞典根目錄
....活動層面
........身體與心智活動
............<體育活動>
................<依一般背景區分之體育活動>
....................遊戲 (體育活動)
........................球類運動
............................美式足球 (運動)

equipment needed/used is....

橄欖球(運動用球)

英文....

Sport played with two teams of 11 players on an oblong ball on a rectangular field marked by vertical yard lines called a "gridiron." It evolved from English rugby and soccer (association football); it differs from soccer chiefly in allowing players to touch, throw, and carry the ball with their hands, and it differs from rugby in allowing each side to control the ball in alternating possessions. The sport originated in the United States.

美式足球(運動)............	[AS-Academia Sinica]
.................	AAT-Taiwan 借詞編輯與使用原則 (2013)
gridiron football............	[VP]
.................	Oxford English Dictionary Online (2002-) accessed 22 June 2009
football(sports)............	[VP]
.................	Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors (1990)
.................	CDMARC Subjects: LCSH (1988-)
.................	Hickok, New Encyclopedia of Sports (1977) illustration
.................	Thesaurus of Park, Recreation, and Leisure Service Terms (1990)
.................	Random House Dictionary of the English Language (1987) illustration
.................	BHA Subject Headings (1985-) football (American)
.................	Encyclopedia Britannica Online (2002-)
American football............	[VP]
.................	Diagram Grop, Rules of the Game (1974) illustration, 146
.................	CDMARC Subjects: LCSH (1988-)
.................	Arlott, Oxford Companion to World Sports (1975) illustration
.................	AAT-Ned (1994-)
fútbol americano............	[CDBP-DIBAM]
.................	Agulló, Diccionario Espasa de términos deportivos (2003) 506
Subject:............	[Bureau AAT]
.................	Van Dale Engels-Nederlands (1989)

Getty AAT: 300222797 Getty AAT: http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=costume&logic=AND¬e=&subjectid=300222797
聯合目錄： 美式足球 、橄欖球 、mei shih tsu ch'iu 、měi shì zú qiú 、mei shi zu qiu 、gridiron football 、football 、American football 、American football 、fútbol americano