basketball

American  

[bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit-] / ˈbæs kɪtˌbɔl, ˈbɑ skɪt- /

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.

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basketball British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• probasketball
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of basketball

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

Explanation

Basketball is a team sport in which players work together to bounce a ball down the length of a court and throw it through a hoop. Some college basketball games are hugely popular and very competitive. In basketball, two teams of five players collaborate to score points by successfully throwing the ball — also called a basketball — through the nets that hang from hoops at either end of the court. The game was invented in 1891, and the word basketball first appeared in print the next year, from basket and ball.

Example Sentences

I have periodically had the same “problem” with NFL, college football, and college basketball games.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026

Recently acquired tax records also show that the university spent $6.1 million to bring in basketball coach Eric Musselman.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Moving the schedule meant the matches would be directly competing with the football, basketball and hockey seasons in the U.S., potentially lowering ratings.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Before it had just been one big, bouncy blue and orange Macy’s balloon, streetwise New York City behaving like some bucolic basketball Mayberry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

She’s lying on her back on a bench, kicking her feet and holding a basketball that she found here in the office.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• ball