netball

American  

[net-bawl] / ˈnɛtˌbɔl /

noun

1. Tennis. a ball, on a return shot, that hits the top of the net and drops on the other side of the court, thus remaining in play.

2. British. a game similar to basketball, played with a soccer ball, usually outdoors.

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netball British  

/ ˈnɛtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a team game similar to basketball, played mainly by women

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Other Word Forms

• netballer
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of netball

First recorded in 1895–1900; net ¹ + ball ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

netball

She used to play netball but was introduced to flag football at school when she was 14 and ended up choosing to focus on flag.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Since 2016, women's football has attracted more than 80,000 additional regular players, participation in women's rugby union has more than doubled, and more than 285,000 women now play netball at least twice a month.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

England will also try to deny Australia a consolation bronze, before teams transform the Hydro from a netball court back to a gig venue for the closing ceremony on Sunday night.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Henley, a lecturer from the University of Auckland, has studied netball deeply, both locally and globally.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

“And captain of my netball team. And I could arm wrestle kids older than me and beat them.”

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

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