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.

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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

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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

Etymology

Origin of snooker

First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

The 50-year-old left Day in a snooker at the start of the frame and the Welshman's failure to escape gifted O'Sullivan a free ball.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

I've been running into superheroes playing unbelievable snooker.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

At the age of 12, Virgo stepped into a snooker club for the first time - seeking out a group of footballing friends.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

"But we ended up sourcing a stool which we mainly used for cooking at first, but then we utilised it into him using it for snooker shots."

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

Related Words

• choke off
• crimp
• foil
• impede
• obstruct
• stall
• stonewall
• thwart