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

This year the coliseum will also become home to The Charlotte Crown, a professional women’s basketball team. —Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026

The mission of the nonprofit is to use the power of basketball and the influence of the Sixers to inspire future generations. —Kerri Corrado, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

The state of Iowa may have to give some props to the state of Missouri for its historic men’s basketball run. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026

Why not get the tickets months ahead of time like many college basketball fans did? —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 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
• 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