handball

noun

hand·​ball ˈhan(d)-ˌbȯl 

1

: a game played in a walled court or against a single wall or board by two or four players who use their hands to strike the ball

2

: a small rubber ball used in handball

Examples of handball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Leverkusen was having a frustrating game, with a goal ruled out for handball and a penalty decision overturned on video review, before 20-year-old midfielder Ibrahim Maza and 19-year-old forward Christian Kofane combined for the only goal in the 73rd minute. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

Leeds United paid the penalty for an Ethan Ampadu handball as they were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at Elland Road. —Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026

Heading into the finale, optician Woo Sung-min, handball coach Shin Hyeon-woo, and The Trunk actor Jo I-geon were all vying for Kim Go-eun’s heart. —Kayti Burt, Time, 10 Feb. 2026

Iñaki Urdangarín, former husband of Infanta Cristina, competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, helping to win the bronze medal for Spain in handball. —Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing handball

• team handball

Rhymes for handball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

handball

noun

hand·​ball -ˌbȯl 

1

: a game played in a walled court or against a single wall or board by two or four players who use their hands to strike a ball

2

: the ball used in handball