bandy

1 of 3

verb

ban·​dy ˈban-dē 

bandied; bandying

transitive verb

1

a

: to discuss lightly or banteringly

Names of potential running mates have been bandied about.

b

: exchange

bandy compliments

especially : to exchange (words) argumentatively

c

: to toss from side to side or pass about from one to another often in a careless or inappropriate manner

A gun is not a toy to be bandied about.

d

: to use in a glib or offhand manner

—often used with about

… bandy these statistics about with considerable bravado.

—Richard Pollak

2

: to bat (something, such as a tennis ball) to and fro

3

archaic : to band together

intransitive verb

1

obsolete : contend

2

archaic : unite

bandy

2 of 3

noun (1)

sports : a game similar to hockey and believed to be its prototype

bandie

3 of 3

noun (2)

ban·​die ˈban-dē 

plural -s

chiefly Scottish

: stickleback

Synonyms of bandy

Verb

• discuss
• debate
• argue

Examples of bandy in a Sentence

Verb

bandied around the idea of going out to dinner for their anniversary

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Such a possibility seems silly but has still been bandied about in early trade-deadline discussions. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 May 2026

But not those bandied about in the general mock-draft populous. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

Noun

In bandy, athletes on ice skates use curved sticks to try to shoot a small ball (not a puck) into the other team's net. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026

The Oslo Games were the only time bandy was part of the official Winter Olympics lineup. —Daniele Polidoro, Wired News, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably borrowed from the base of French bander "to strike (a ball with a racket), stretch or draw back (a bow, spring, etc.)," going back to Old French, "to stretch, wrap with bandages," verbal derivative of bande "strip, band entry 1"

Note: The origin of the suffix -y, -ie is unclear. The noun bandie referring to a variation of tennis is of the same date and suggests a putative Middle French bandé or bandée, but no such word is attested.

Noun (1)

earlier, "a variety of tennis," probably noun derivative of bandy entry 1

Note: See note at bandy entry 1.

Noun (2)

probably alteration of banstickle

First Known Use

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (1)

1673, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bandy

• bandy about
• bandy around
• bandy words

Rhymes for bandy

• brandy
• candy
• dandy
• grandee
• randy
• shandy

Kids Definition

bandy

1 of 2 verb

ban·​dy ˈban-dē 

bandied; bandying

1

: to exchange (words) in argument

2

: to discuss or mention in gossip or small talk

several names were bandied about

bandy

2 of 2 adjective

: curved especially outward

bandy legs

Medical Definition

bandy

adjective

ban·​dy ˈban-dē 

1

of legs : bowed outward at or below the knee

2

: bowlegged