lacrosse

American  

[luh-kraws, -kros] / ləˈkrɔs, -ˈkrɒs /

noun

1. a game, originated by Indians of North America, in which two 10-member teams attempt to send a small ball into each other's netted goal, each player being equipped with a crosse or stick at the end of which is a netted pocket for catching, carrying, or throwing the ball.

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lacrosse British  

/ ləˈkrɒs /

noun

1. a ball game invented by Native Americans, now played by two teams who try to propel a ball into each other's goal by means of long-handled hooked sticks that are loosely strung with a kind of netted pouch

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Etymology

Origin of lacrosse

1710–20, < Canadian French: literally, the crook (stick used in the game). See crosse

Explanation

Lacrosse is a team sport in which players carry a ball in the net of a long-handled racket, throw it to each other, and try to score points by getting the ball into a goal. Both men and women play lacrosse, mostly on high school and college teams. Lacrosse players carry a long stick with a netted head for cradling the small rubber ball. In women's lacrosse, the stick must be moving back and forth to keep the ball from falling out. The game now known as lacrosse was invented by indigenous people of North America as early as AD 1100. Lacrosse comes from the French Canadian jeu de la crosse, "game of the hooked sticks."

Example Sentences

MacDonald said she enrolled in St. Michael’s in part because her parents are alumni, and she wanted to play lacrosse for the school.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Nash, who has previously worked alongside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and played lacrosse for England at junior and senior level, paid tribute to her predecessor.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

“The gifts I’ve been given by God, working out with offseason speed training and also playing lacrosse two years ago — all that coming together produces what I can do now,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2025

The PitchBook numbers don’t even include sports like lacrosse, bull riding, Formula One, Minor League Baseball, flag football, rugby, volleyball, water polo, or even youth sports External link where PE has bought in.

From Barron's • Dec. 5, 2025

Thanks to the big mouths on the lacrosse team, everybody knew what happened before sundown.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson