pickleball

noun

pick·​le·​ball ˈpi-kəl-ˌbȯl 

plural pickleballs

: an indoor or outdoor game that is played on a level court with short-handled paddles and a perforated plastic ball volleyed over a low net by two players or pairs of players

Pickleball, a tennis-like sport played on a smaller court, places a gentle strain on the body …

—Sarah Larson

Pickleball is a paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels. This team sport can be played indoors or outdoors and takes place on a badminton court using a perforated plastic baseball (similar to a wiffle ball) and small paddles. The pickleball net is lowered to 34 inches for game play, and each game is played to a score of 11 points.

—The Winston-Salem (North Carolina) Journal

also : the ball used in this game

The day started out fine but a blast of chilly air soon blew through. When the clouds lifted there were strong winds which played havoc with the lightweight plastic pickleballs.

—Craig Garrett

pickleballer

ˈpi-kəl-ˌbȯ-lər 

noun

plural pickleballers

Other local pickleballers said they love how accessible the sport is whether you're a man, woman, youngster or senior. They said it's likely one of the reasons the sport has become increasingly popular …

—Brian Arola

Examples of pickleball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are now pickleball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts, a mini golf course and even outdoor fitness equipment. —Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026

Zillow reports a 25% increase in mentions of pickleball courts and golf simulators. —Mary Grace Granados special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026

The focus on student experience, the complex will include six tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and one basketball court, all lit for night action. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2026

Neighbors around the park, many of whom live just 50 feet from the park, have been raising concerns about pickleball noise at Klode for several years after two tennis courts were converted to four pickleball courts over five years ago. —Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pickle entry 1 + ball entry 1

Note: The game was invented in the summer of 1965 by a group of neighbors on Bainbridge Island, Washington, including then state representative Joel Prichard (1925-97), Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. According to one account, pickle was suggested by pickle boat, a boat in crew rowing made up of rowers not chosen by other teams (as pickleball was amalgamated from features of other paddle sports). Another account claims that pickle was inspired by a dog named Pickles owned by one of the neighbors (though it is also claimed that this dog was named after the sport). (See, among other sources, the website of the USA Pickleball Association, and www.pickleballportal.com.)

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pickleball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol