bocce

noun

boc·​ce ˈbä-chē How to pronounce bocce (audio)
variants or less commonly bocci or boccie
: a bowling game of Italian origin played on a long narrow court (as of sand, clay, grass, or carpet) with bocce balls (see bocce balls sense 2) which are rolled to stop as close as possible to a small target ball

called also bocce ball

Examples of bocce 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.
The celebration features food and music, a bocce tournament, an Elvis Presley impersonator, pizza acrobatics and more. Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 May 2026 Outdoors, there’s lots of room for activities, from the bocce court to the covered courtyard that houses a pizza oven. Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 14 May 2026 Aside from the official Fan Festival, there are plenty of pubs and bars planning their own Texas-sized World Cup celebrations, from sprawling newcomer Craft with its bocce court for halftime games to tried-and-tested favorites like The Londoner, Cannon's, and Harwood Arms. Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026 Games like classic ring-toss, cornhole, bocce, and more are built for family fun all summer long. ABC News, 2 May 2026 Every inch is just packed with people lying on blankets or playing bocce, trying to get a little bit of sunlight. Anne Kadet, Curbed, 29 Apr. 2026 Amenities follow suit, with complimentary beach gear and cruiser bikes, a bocce court, and heated pools and a hot tub. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026 In Colorado’s largest city, Denver’s more than 250 parks offer a wide array of courts for those seeking alternatives to the normal — including bocce, futsal, handball, lawn bowling, sand volleyball, roller hockey, ping pong, cornhole and slackline courses. John Aguilar, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 Article continues below The lot includes a patio, pool, hot tub, and bocce court. The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian bocce, plural of boccia ball, from Vulgar Latin *bottia boss

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bocce was in 1828

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bocce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bocce. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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