Showing results for "pickleball"

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Pop Culture dictionary results for pickleball.

pickleball

American  

[pik-uhl-bawl] / ˈpɪk əlˌbɔl /

noun

• pickleballs
  plural

1. a game, similar to tennis and badminton, played indoors or outdoors on a court with a low net, using a short-handled, lightweight paddle and a perforated plastic ball.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pickleballs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of pickleball

First recorded in 1970–75; originally a proprietary name for the equipment used in the game

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Explanation

Pickleball is a sport that's similar to tennis, but it's played with paddles instead of rackets. In pickleball, players hit a hollow plastic ball back and forth over a low net. Sometimes described as a cross between tennis and ping-pong, pickleball was invented in the 1960s in Washington state. It quickly grew popular in the Pacific Northwest, but didn't catch on more widely until the 2020s. Former U.S. Congressman Joel Pritchard is credited with creating the game for his kids. Many people think he named it after his dog, Pickles, but Pritchard later said pickleball came from the so-called pickle boat in crew, a randomly thrown-together group of rowers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pickleball pickleballs

They’ve had a pickleball night to introduce themselves to new students, coffee meet-and-greets, debate tables and game nights.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026

Last week, he visited a school in Birmingham to launch a education programme inspired by the Games, where he played pickleball with pupils and took part in a science lesson on prosthetic design.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

This goes way beyond just a lifestyle issue where the younger spouse is ready for pickleball just as the other needs a walker to get to the bathroom.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

From above, an outdoor terrace is outfitted especially for hosting recruits or other luminaries, complete, for the time being, with basketball courts and pickleball.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

“I still can’t believe Legend likes pickleball more than basketball.”

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Plastic pickleballs look similar to Wiffle balls, but with more holes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

It was loud inside from paddles hitting pickleballs and piped-in music.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2025

Once lit, the bottom layer displayed the second part of the message, “Ellen,” alongside several pickleballs — a nod to DeGeneres’ favorite activity.

From Salon ● Mar. 12, 2024

The hard plastic pickleballs create a sharp pop-pop-pop that is legendary for the disputes and lawsuits it has triggered nationwide.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 24, 2023

Patio chairs and tables for spectators all have broken pickleballs shoved over their feet, putting to use the dozens of spherical casualties created by the pickleball aficionado and her friends.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 5, 2015

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