ball boy

American  

noun

1. Tennis. an attendant, usually a boy or young man, employed to retrieve balls and supply players with them.

2. Baseball. an attendant, usually a boy or young man, who retrieves foul balls and brings the umpire new balls during the game.

---

ball boy British  

noun

1. (in sport, esp tennis) a person who retrieves balls that go out of play

---

Etymology

Origin of ball boy

First recorded in 1900–05

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ball boy

Outside the stadium a small net had been set up and any kid who could put the ball in the goal would be entered in a raffle to be a ball boy on the field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

"Of course, Barcelona, the impact in my life as a ball boy, football player, manager and so on, is obvious, and of course, Bayern was an incredible step as well," said Guardiola.

From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025

"I saw he wanted the ball and I quickly threw it to him. It was my first time as a ball boy."

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2025

Iga Swiatek is "not proud" of the way she took her frustration in Indian Wells out on a ball boy but has criticised the "standards" she faces in her behaviour as "not healthy".

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2025

They need not however, be the ones given here,—for "b" it may be "baby," "ball," "boy," or "box," but let it be a word familiar to the class and easily remembered.

From How to Teach Phonics by Lida M. Williams

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---