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

His older brother, Ethan, is a freshman guard at Wabash Valley, a high-profile junior college basketball program. — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten announced their policies — which, for now, only include football for the Big Ten and, like the ACC, football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball for the SEC — on Tuesday. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Dean understood better than most that basketball is bigger than a record. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Three former UConn women’s basketball players are listed in the top 10 of ESPN’s top 50 WNBA players rankings as the WNBA approaches the break for the FIBA Women’s World Cup. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 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