water polo

American  

noun

1. 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

1. 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

---

Etymology

Origin of water polo

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Events: Women’s cricket, equestrian mixed, women’s water polo, badminton mixed and women’s golf.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Scottish Swimming, the national governing body for swimming, diving, open water, artistic swimming and water polo in Scotland, said it was "disappointed" by South Ayrshire Council's decision.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Sophia Panossian, a water polo player at the University of Michigan, urged viewers to help her “get ready with me” by checking Kalshi’s weather odds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

His support for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Games went beyond the water polo teams.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

“If they can filter the salt and fish guts and whale turds out of ocean water, I’m sure they can manage anything left behind by the water polo meatheads,” Kelton says.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman