basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball ˈba-skit-ˌbȯl 

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

The actor, 54, shared a photo of himself reuniting with his former Dancing with the Stars partner Jenna Johnson, as well as former basketball player Baron Davis and his partner Britt Stewart. —Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025

Gallery The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team defeated rival Louisville Cardinals 72-62 at the KFC! —Stephanie Stremplewski, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Nov. 2025

LeBron James finally back in action The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed the return of LeBron James to the basketball court with a win − and a 140-point explosion − after their superstar missed the first 14 games of the season with a sciatic nerve injury. —Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025

The winningest coach in Kansas’ storied basketball history always feels and acts with urgency. —Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing basketball

• fantasy football/baseball/basketball

Rhymes for basketball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball -ˌbȯl 

: 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