billiards

American  

[bil-yerdz] / ˈbɪl jərdz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. any of several games played with hard balls of ivory or a similar material that are driven with a cue on a cloth-covered table enclosed by a raised rim of rubber, especially a game played with a cue ball and two object balls on a table without pockets.

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billiards British  

/ ˈbɪljədz /

noun

1. any of various games in which long cues are used to drive balls now made of composition or plastic. It is played on a rectangular table covered with a smooth tight-fitting cloth and having raised cushioned edges

2. a version of this, played on a rectangular table having six pockets let into the corners and the two longer sides. Points are scored by striking one of three balls with the cue to contact the other two or one of the two Compare pool 2 snooker

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Other Word Forms

• billiardist
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of billiards

First recorded in 1585–95; plural of billiard

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Explanation

Billiards is a table game in which players try to knock balls into pockets with a long stick. The game known as "pool" is considered to be one type of billiards. When you challenge a friend to a game of billiards, you'll take turns tapping hard balls with the end of a cue stick. These balls roll across a cloth-covered table and knock against other balls. The goal of the game is to get certain balls into certain pockets. Billiards is said to have evolved from lawn games like croquet, and the word itself, originally referring to the stick itself, comes from the French bille, or "stick."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

billiards

Every time we shoot more stuff up into space, we risk it hitting something else, as in a giant game of billiards.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

I would like for there to be activities or games such as scavenger hunts, escape rooms, billiards, pinball, karaoke, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey — you name it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

The seven-bedroom main residence is Mediterranean in style, with a dramatic entry atrium, high coffered ceilings, expansive living and entertaining areas, covered loggias and a club-style game room and billiards lounge with a full bar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

As a player, he reached the 1975 and 1977 world amateur billiards semi-finals and rose to ninth in the world rankings.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2024

They played billiards in the White House on the table their father had used.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

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