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.
Former Green Bay Packers star Donald Driver and basketball legend Candace Parker sat courtside, largely to see Murray. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for basketball

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basketball was in 1877

Phrases Containing basketball

Rhymes for basketball

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Browse Nearby Words

basket ash
basketball
basketballer
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Cite this Entry

“Basketball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basketball. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about basketball

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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