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

On any given weekday, he can be seen joining the Fioritas and their mini bernedoodle for walks down the cul-de-sac, basketball games in the driveway, or dips in the backyard pool.

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The return of basketball royalty to China is intended to reverse that trend.

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“For the first time, I stopped playing basketball for a month,” he says.

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ROSEMONT, Ill. — They had just talked the day before, Skyy Clark and his father having one of their usual conversations about life, basketball and whatever else popped into their minds.

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“I played every sport growing up — soccer, football, basketball, golf, tennis, rugby, swimming,” he said.

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Related Words

• ball