dodge ball

American  

noun

1. a circle game in which players throw an inflated ball at opponents within the circle who try to avoid being hit, and therefore eliminated, the winner being the one who remains unhit.

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dodge ball British  

noun

1. a game in which the players form a circle and try to hit opponents in the circle with a large ball

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Etymology

Origin of dodge ball

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

“I want to emphasize play, not winning,” Parkkinen announced before Clown Dodge Ball.

From Seattle Times

I admit I found it painful to see women my age and older being forced to stand awaiting Gerry’s judgment during the infamous rose ceremony, but then I have always viewed the rose ceremony as an act of outrageous barbarity, reminiscent of choosing teams for dodge ball.

From Los Angeles Times

Though the researchers call the octopuses’ actions “throws,” Jervis Bay is not like a dodge ball court populated by eight-armed players; only in one case did an octopus fling a shell by straightening its arm the way a human would.

From New York Times

Every summer, the Christian teens of Roman White’s hokey musical “A Week Away,” streaming on Netflix, head to Camp Aweegaway for genteel flirting, Amy Grant ballads and the Warrior Games, a multiday olympiad of tug of war, dodge ball, and hula-hooping, capped by a talent show.

From New York Times

Later that year, after the couple had split up but before Ms. Augustine left for Spain, Mr. Mayer was playing in an dodge ball league and a bone in his arm snapped.

From New York Times