ball bearing

noun

: a bearing in which the journal turns upon loose hardened steel balls that roll easily in a race

also : one of the balls in such a bearing

Examples of ball bearing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, look for shower curtain rings fitted with ball bearings. — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2026

Just like the ball bearings story, in many cases the weakest node in the supply chain ultimately determines the operational resilience of the entire system. — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026

Sleep Foundation notes that weighted blankets can contain glass beads, plastic pellets, ball bearings or other materials, and the choice of filler directly affects how warm the blanket sleeps. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026

His father was a wheeler-dealer who lived by quick wits and the sweat of his brow, dabbling in bootlegged sake, swine farming, loan sharking, and later pachinko parlors—Japan’s ubiquitous low-stakes gambling game of clattering steel ball bearings. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ball bearing

• childbearing
• comparing
• declaring
• despairing
• forbearing
• impairing
• preparing
• repairing
• ridesharing
• timesharing
• uncaring
• unerring

Kids Definition

ball bearing

noun

1

: a bearing in which the revolving part turns on steel balls that roll easily in a groove

2

: one of the balls in a ball bearing