often attributive
: a game in which a player using special clubs attempts to sink a ball with as few strokes as possible into each of the 9 or 18 successive holes on a course
golf intransitive verb
golfer noun

Golf

2 of 2

communications code word

—used as a code word for the letter g

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This is a game in which a player using special clubs attempts to sink a small ball into each of the nine or 18 successive holes on an outdoor course, using as few strokes as possible. Golf developed in Scotland as early as the 15th century; the courses were originally fields that herds of sheep had clipped short in their characteristic grazing style. Golf balls, originally made of wood, are now made of hard rubber. Clubs are known by the traditional names of “irons” and “woods”; today irons are more likely made of stainless steel than iron, and the heads of woods are usually made of metal such as steel or titanium instead of wood.

Examples of golf in a Sentence

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Noun
Imagine showing off that feature to your golf buddies after a round. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Discontinued in 1990, the silhouette was originally worn by Bobby Jones during golf’s golden era in the 1920s and throughout his historic Grand Slam campaign. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Which is why golf buddies Tyler Kenney and Zach Smith founded Laced Golf, a digital device that clips onto your shoelaces and gives you real-time feedback on your stance using lights and haptic vibration. — Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 For this week’s DP World India Championship, McIlroy has brought along a new look — baggy golf pants. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for golf

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English (Scots)

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of golf was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Golf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golf. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

golf

noun
ˈgälf How to pronounce golf (audio)
ˈgȯlf, 
ˈgäf, 
ˈgȯf
: a game in which the player uses specialized clubs to try to hit a small ball with as few strokes as possible into each of 9 or 18 holes
golf verb
golfer noun

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