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 entire family — including Magic's family — was on deck to support the basketball legend as he got honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025

Unrivaled, the women’s 3-on-3 basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, holds less than 900 fans at the league’s Wayfair Arena home near Miami. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2025

When asked about Flagg the basketball player, Nowitzki didn’t hold back on his feelings. —Christian Clark, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025

Back on the balcony, the magician was doing his best to charm basketball players Devin Booker and Jordan Clarkson with card tricks. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 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