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

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

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Don't call it the "Marty Supreme" effect: table tennis is a growing sport in the United States, in part because of a new professional league giving the parlor game an ultra-competitive edge.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

But Reaves, who excels at nearly every sport he attempts, including golf, bowling, tennis, pickleball and table tennis, just has great touch, Redick said with a shrug.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

The semi-fictionalised film is based on real-life post-war table tennis star Marty Reisman.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Did Iranians say Ping-Pong, or did they say table tennis?

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram