basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball ˈba-skit-ˌbȯl How to pronounce basketball (audio)
often attributive
: a usually indoor court game between two teams of usually five players each who score by tossing an inflated ball through a raised goal
also : the ball used in this game

Examples of basketball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The next two major international basketball competitions are the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Khobi Price, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025 Reese has become arguably the most controversial figure in women's basketball since then. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025 Adding to the difficulty is the money invested in men’s basketball and baseball. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 Grain-of-salt October basketball has indicated there should be more of that coming as well. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for basketball

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basketball was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Basketball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basketball. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

basketball

noun
bas·​ket·​ball -ˌbȯl How to pronounce basketball (audio)
: a court game in which each of two teams tries to toss an inflated ball through a raised goal
also : the ball used in this game

More from Merriam-Webster on basketball

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!