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volleyball

American  
[vol-ee-bawl] / ˈvɒl iˌbɔl /

noun

  1. a game for two teams in which the object is to keep a large ball in motion, from side to side over a high net, by striking it with the hands before it touches the ground.

  2. the ball used in this game.

volleyball British  
/ ˈvɒlɪˌbɔːl /

noun

  1. a game in which two teams hit a large ball back and forth over a high net with their hands

  2. the ball used in this game

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of volleyball

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; volley + ball 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her father described her as an avid volleyball player, who would always turn up to the sports hall 20 to 25 minutes early.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Publicly available images paint a picture of daily life in the town's sports hall, where schoolchildren played volleyball tournaments and students sat exams.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Spalding was with Mirabal and headed home to share the moment with his parents when he received a text from the MIT volleyball coach walking out the door congratulating him.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Mirabal was playing volleyball in his backyard on Dec. 15 with teammates.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Our whole platoon really playing volleyball this time.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.