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

From a breakout run with Senegal’s AS Douanes to a fresh challenge with Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, his path reflects not only personal growth but the maturing identity of a league where African basketball continues to rise. —Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025

None of this changes the work that Rose has done since taking over the basketball operation at the Garden. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025

Her older brother, Isaac, was a basketball and track athlete for Hagerty. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025

Anthony is one of the best scorers in NBA history, and dominated in isolation basketball during his career. —Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

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