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pools

British  
/ puːlz /

plural noun

  1. Also called: football pools.  an organized nationwide principally postal gambling pool betting on the result of football matches

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pools

C20: from pool ² (in the sense: a gambling kitty)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The restrictions mean, from Thursday, hosepipes should not be used for watering gardens or allotments, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or swimming pools, or cleaning windows.

From BBC Jul. 21, 2026

The regulations govern collateralized loan obligations, funds backed by pools of corporate debt from junk-rated companies.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 21, 2026

After they died, their remains ended up in shallow cave pools, where parts of their bodies were preserved at what is now the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, one of the world's most important fossil sites.

From Science Daily Jul. 19, 2026

The pros included a vast support network of friends and neighbors, 24/7 security guards stationed at the entrance gate, and scenic lakes, swimming pools and tennis courts throughout her development.

From MarketWatch Jul. 12, 2026

“The pH alone would probably take years off his life. And have you seen Kwame try to swim? It’s like watching a wounded cat in one of those wave pools at the amusement park!”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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