Hula-Hoop

American  

[hoo-luh-hoop] / ˈhu ləˌhup /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a tubular plastic hoop, about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter, for rotating about the body by swinging the hips, used for physical exercise or in children's play: introduced in the 1950s.

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Hula Hoop British  

noun

1. a light hoop that is whirled around the body by movements of the waist and hips

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Explanation

A hula-hoop is a toy — a plastic, circular tube you rotate around your body by circling your hips. Some experts can get several hula-hoops spinning at the same time. Twirling a hula-hoop around your waist is fun, and it's also good exercise. Hoops have been used as playthings for centuries, but the hula-hoop was invented in 1958. The toy made from plastic tubing was based on traditional hoops made of rattan or bamboo, and it was wildly popular. At one point, the manufacturer produced 50,000 hula-hoops a day. The word hula was used because the hip movements were seen as similar to the Hawaiian hula dance.

Example Sentences

Palms suck down water like camels, but give back barely enough leafiness to shade a Hula-Hoop.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

Hula-Hoop Girl, which was discovered in Nottingham, will be exhibited at The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket from Saturday.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2023

As I sat at this table, I taught kids how to Hula-Hoop, how to spin a top, and how to draw different animals.

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2019

A heavier hoop—and a larger hoop—takes longer to make a revolution around your waist, which makes them easier to “hoop” than a typical toy-store Hula-Hoop.

From National Geographic Kids • Jul. 11, 2016

Since I don’t know what else to do, I follow her, dragging my Hula-Hoop behind me.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan