water polo

American

noun

an aquatic game played by two teams of seven swimmers each, the object being to score goals by pushing, carrying, or passing an inflated ball and tossing it into the opponent's goal, defended by a goalkeeper.

water polo British

noun

a game played in water by two teams of seven swimmers in which each side tries to throw or propel an inflated ball into the opponents' goal

"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 water polo

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

Water polo is often described as the national sport of Hungary, who won 2023’s world title and have nine Olympic gold medals in this event, although none since 2008.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2024

Water polo does not play in the Pac-12, but in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2023

Water polo is like a moving chess board.

From New York Times • Jul. 26, 2021

Water polo makes a strong case for hardest sport at the Olympics.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2021

Water polo has become one of the most popular and fascinating of all water sports.

From Swimming Scientifically Taught A Practical Manual for Young and Old by Dalton, Frank Eugen

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