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Synonyms

snooker

American  
[snook-er, snoo-ker] / ˈsnʊk ər, ˈsnu kər /

noun

  1. a variety of pool played with 15 red balls and 6 balls of colors other than red, in which a player must shoot one of the red balls, each with a point value of 1, into a pocket before shooting at one of the other balls, with point values of from 2 to 7.

verb (used with object)

  1. Slang. to deceive, cheat, or dupe.

    to be snookered by a mail order company.
snooker British  
/ ˈsnuːkə /

noun

  1. a game played on a billiard table with 15 red balls, six balls of other colours, and a white cue ball. The object is to pot the balls in a certain order

  2. a shot in which the cue ball is left in a position such that another ball blocks the object ball. The opponent is then usually forced to play the cue ball off a cushion

"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

verb

  1. to leave (an opponent) in an unfavourable position by playing a snooker

  2. to place (someone) in a difficult situation

  3. (often passive) to thwart; defeat

"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 snooker

First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain

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.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has created more snooker history by making the sport's highest-ever professional break with a 153 at the World Open in Yushan.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

He had a string of one-liners down pat, a deep mine of anecdotes ready to roll out at any given moment, and a sureness of just how fortunate he had been to stumble on snooker.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

Tributes came from far and wide, from snooker circles and the likes of former boxing champion Frank Bruno and musician Rick Wakeman - friends from the celebrity circuit.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

When asked who would win in a snooker match between him and his father, Jude replied confidently: "Me."

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

They do what is called glancing, which is the same word for bumping off something and carrying on in almost the same direction, e.g., when a snooker ball glances off another snooker ball.

From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.