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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.
But nine games into the 2025-2026 season, Jaquez may be the star that college basketball will learn to point to at Pauley Pavilion. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025 Last year, the basketball star transferred from Douglas County High School in Castle Rock to Eaglecrest High School in Aurora for his senior season. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025 Butler is steadfast in his basketball philosophy, whether the ball is in his hands or not. Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025 The rustic cafe’s solitary television is airing basketball from the Eurobasket league, and the lone waiter periodically bounces between watching the game and serving the restaurant’s three patrons. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Basketball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basketball. Accessed 2 Dec. 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
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