table tennis

American  

noun

1. a game resembling tennis, played on a table with small paddles and a hollow celluloid or plastic ball.

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table tennis British  

noun

1. a miniature form of tennis played on a table with small bats and a light hollow ball

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Etymology

Origin of table tennis

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Sabbir reads manuals on the theory of navigation, and Islamic texts—or plays table tennis with his crew.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Now a robot named Ace has achieved another milestone for AI and robotics by defeating expert-level humans at table tennis in Tokyo, according to a study published Wednesday in the scientific journal Nature.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

"I'd love to play table tennis as a living."

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

As a child she was encouraged to take part in sport and shone at table tennis, but found her calling in winter sports and cross-country skiing in particular.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

But one afternoon, during a table tennis match at which the entire staff was present, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah