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

There was no upset this time in the season opener for TCU men’s basketball as the Horned Frogs rolled to a 98-59 win over Lindenwood Monday night at Schollmaier Arena. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026

On a night when the Hornets played bad basketball, the Pistons excelled. — Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026

Baseball and basketball, in particular, have been areas of focus for Sure Sports, though McKenzie did not name any specific clients, citing confidentiality. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026

The basketball expert also worked on two books with NBA star Charles Barkley. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, 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