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• no ball
  no ball

  noun

  an unfairly bowled ball.
• no-ball
  no-ball

  noun

  cricket an illegal ball, as for overstepping the crease, throwing, etc, for which the batting side scores a run, and from which the batsman can be out only by being run out

no ball

American  

noun

Cricket.

1. an unfairly bowled ball.

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no-ball British  

noun

1. cricket an illegal ball, as for overstepping the crease, throwing, etc, for which the batting side scores a run, and from which the batsman can be out only by being run out

2. rounders an illegal ball, esp one bowled too high or too low

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1. cricket rounders a call by the umpire indicating a no-ball

verb

1. (tr) cricket

   1. to declare (a bowler) to have bowled a no-ball

   2. to declare (a delivery) to be a no-ball

Etymology

Origin of no ball

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

no ball no-ball

Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy took a wicket each in the first two overs before Zak Foulkes conceded 24 runs off the third over, which started with a no ball for four and three wides.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

Play experts want to ban "no ball games" signs and protect playtime during school breaks, to reduce the time children spend on screens.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2025

“Just tired of watching turnovers and no ball movement, no player movement,” USC coach Andy Enfield said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2024

He hit five sixes and a four in Harshal Patel’s 20th over — with one of the sixes coming off a no ball — for his 28-ball 62.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2021

We’re about to go inside the store when we hear this thump, like someone has bounced a Super Ball against the store window, only there’s no one there, and no ball.

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead

He was caught off a Cameron Green no-ball on 22, then edged and miscued the same bowler.

From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026

When he tried a swipe, the ball looped up to be caught on the leg side, only for the umpire to signal no-ball.

From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2025

He edged Chris Woakes through the slips in the second over of the day but that was to a delivery that was a front-foot no-ball anyway.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2025

The visitors should have got many more than their first-innings 471, then dropped four catches, including three off Bumrah, the man culpable for Brook's no-ball reprieve.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2025

Why not make it a no-ball every time unless the bowler has both feet in the air at the moment when the ball leaves his hand?

From Punch, or the London Charivari, July 1, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir