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

Recruiting websites listed Kusturica as a five-star prospect, and college basketball analysts at Field of 64 and other outlets project Kusturica could be a top-five 2028 NBA draft pick. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Everything about him suggests someone eager to get on the floor and play basketball. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 10 July 2026

The park has two baseball fields, a basketball court, a tee-ball field and an artificial turf for baseball and soccer. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026

The spheres were roughly twice the size of a basketball, local residents reported. — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

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
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol
• 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