bocce

noun

boc·​ce ˈbä-chē 

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

Windsor Run also boasts two bocce courts, a community garden, and the new Carolina Courtyard, featuring a firepit that has quickly become a favorite gathering spot. — Erickson Senior Living, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026

But there’s plenty to keep kids occupied here from pool toys and rafts to beachside games like jenga and bocce. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026

The more than 12-acre lot has about 20,000 trees, bocce courts, English gardens, and a campground. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026

Along with Italian food, bocce and live entertainment, the event gave small businesses a chance to meet customers who may be discovering their products for the first time. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bocce

• bocce ball

Rhymes for bocce

• cocci
• diplococci
• micrococci
• pneumococci
• meningococci