basketball

[bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit-]

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.

basketball

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• probasketball adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of basketball¹

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

Example Sentences

Coaches have transitioned between college and the pros in football and basketball forever.

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The song went viral on TikTok and on other social media videos to describe the height of basketball players.

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Davey Harris of Windward finally scored his first points in high school basketball Monday night after waiting two seasons to recover from a knee injury.

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“It’s bad enough when some kid goes to college for a year to get a basketball contract and then drops out,” says William E. Vita, a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

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His passes were magnificent and his unselfishness legendary, and basketball old-timers recognized a teenager mature beyond his years.

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Related Words

• ball