goalpost

/ˈɡɔʊl-/noun

One of the two upright posts that stand at either side of the goal, for example in soccer.

Example sentences

“The ball hit the goalpost and bounced away.”
“The goalkeeper stood between the goalposts, ready to dive.”
“Workers painted the goalposts white before the big game.”

Often used in the plural. The idiom 'move the goalposts' means to unfairly change the rules or targets after something has started.

Synonyms for goalpost

upright
post

Related words

netA piece of material made of crossed strings or cord, used in sports such as tennis and volleyball or to form the back of a goal.sidelineA boundary line running along the edge of something, such as a sports field.dugoutA low, sheltered bench area beside a sports field where coaches and substitute players sit during a match.scoreboardA big display at a game or competition that shows how many points each side has.stopwatchA watch that can be started and stopped to measure exactly how much time has passed.shinguardA protective pad worn over the front of the lower leg, especially during sports.