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Synonyms

board game

American  
Rarely boardgame

noun

  1. a game, as checkers or chess, requiring the moving of pieces from one section of a board to another.

  2. any game played on a board.


Etymology

Origin of board game

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

From board game clubs to junk journaling meetups, there’s so many different ways to connect and maybe try something new.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

In 1822, F. & R. Lockwood, a small cartography firm in New York, published what historians today believe was the first of its kind: a board game invented and marketed in America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

The 24-year-old acknowledged, however, that his streak of good luck did not apply to everything in life, notably a board game against his countryman and super-G bronze medallist Marco Odermatt.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

Sadmir and his board game companions are just some of the 300 patients at the gaming disorder clinic, Australia's only publicly-run institution of its type, helping patients wean themselves off excessive online gaming habits.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

Jones spun his pencil in circles on his notepad, like the spinner for a board game.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater