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 Words From

• pro·basket·ball adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of basketball¹

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

Example Sentences

The Associated Press issued men’s college basketball rankings this past Monday, and the list boiled with blasphemy.

From Washington Post

Howard cancels men’s basketball season because of covid concerns

From Washington Post

Hearing it so often — 162 times in a baseball season, half that in basketball or hockey — makes each version less special.

From Washington Post

As Abdur-Rahim pushed the issue, basketball people he respected, including his friend and former agent Aaron Goodwin, convinced him the league needed to drastically increase the compensation and create a more refined program.

From Washington Post

The Big Ten has moved its men’s basketball conference tournament to Indianapolis, the league announced Tuesday.

From Washington Post

He was very even-keeled, goofy and liked to play basketball.

From The Daily Beast

Soccer in the rest of the world is what we know as basketball.

From The Daily Beast

It was around noon that Brinsley chucked the phone behind a radiator at the basketball stadium and went off the grid.

From The Daily Beast

I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.

From The Daily Beast

The basketball game was the final engagement on a seriously busy day for the young royals.

From The Daily Beast

From what I was told he was a stevedore and had once been a professional basketball player.

From Project Gutenberg

The closed-bottom basket used in the game of basketball is so high that it is difficult to remove the ball after a goal is made.

From Project Gutenberg

Many members were not interested in basketball, except to look on.

From Project Gutenberg

A basketball is passed quickly around the circle, moving in one direction only.

From Project Gutenberg

A basketball is thrown from one player to another, across the circle, or may be passed to the nearest neighbor.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ball