basketball

American  

[bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit-] / ˈbæs kɪtˌbɔl, ˈbɑ skɪt- /

noun

1. a game played by two teams of usually five players each on a rectangular court having a raised basket or goal at each end, points being scored by tossing the ball through the opponent's basket.

2. the round, inflated ball approximately 30 inches (76 centimeters) in circumference, used in this game.

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basketball British  

/ ˈbɑːskɪtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a game played by two opposing teams of five men (or six women) each, usually on an indoor court. Points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal metal hoop

2. the inflated ball used in this game

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Other Word Forms

• probasketball adjective

Etymology

Origin of basketball

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; basket + ball ¹

Example Sentences

Unrivaled – Unrivaled in a relatively new women’s basketball league in its second season, primarily based in the Miami Metro area.

From Salon

To say that DeAndre Cole inherited a difficult challenge when he became the boys’ basketball coach at Compton Centennial this season would be an understatement.

From Los Angeles Times

Prediction markets let people wager on a basketball game or a presidential election — and recently, the downfall of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.

From Los Angeles Times

The government also built a basketball court there for a professional team linked to the security services.

From Barron's

Trinity League basketball tournament schedule for next week.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ball