trackball

American

[trak-bawl] / ˈtrækˌbɔl /

noun

a computer input device for controlling the pointer on a display screen by rotating a ball set inside a case.

trackball British

/ ˈtrækəˌbɔːl, ˈtrækˌbɔːl /

noun

computing a device consisting of a small ball, mounted in a cup, which can be rotated to move the cursor around the screen

"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 trackball

First recorded in 1975–1980

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.

See Examples For:

trackball

With the one finger he is able to move, he controls the on-screen cursor using a trackball.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

First, the team designed a miniature virtual reality arena and displayed it on a screen surrounding a spherical treadmill, a bit like the trackball of a computer mouse.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 1, 2023

The worst thing about my beloved Logitech trackball is the software.

From The Verge ● May 10, 2022

Trackballs used to be much more commonplace back in the day, and trackball diehards say it can be an easier and more ergonomic way of interfacing with UI, particularly for people with mobility impairments.

From The Verge ● Mar. 9, 2022

No buttons, only a round trackball adorned with the world map in black and white.

From A Short History of EBooks by Lebert, Marie

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