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

One theory is that English and European voices provide an air of authority, even legitimacy, to a sport which, while embraced by millions in America, is still ‘foreign’, certainly when compared to NFL, baseball and basketball. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 18 July 2026

The second occurred last November when a 2-7 Dolphins team returned to their locker room and discovered the Pop-A-Shot arcade basketball hoop machine, and a second basketball rim were removed from the player’s locker room. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Baker appeared on 'Face The Nation' recently and discussed the potential for basketball (and other sports) to reorganize based on geography. — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

The court’s opinion describes De Barros arriving at the basketball court outside the recreation center, where 15 teens had gathered to play. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 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