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

Most of the matches took place in 2025 — before table tennis tale “Marty Supreme” even hit theaters — although Ace defeated professional players as recently as March.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

PingPod, a chain of table tennis venues in the United States, reported it had 160,000 registered users.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

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

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

Afterward, we would have lunch, then busy ourselves playing table tennis or soccer.

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