basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball ˈba-skit-ˌbȯl How to pronounce basketball (audio)
often attributive
: a usually indoor court game between two teams of usually five players each who score by tossing an inflated ball through a raised goal
also : the ball used in this game

Examples of basketball 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.
With five pools, nine restaurants, a paintball course, and tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, every member of your family can find their happy place. Chelsea Adams, USA Today, 20 June 2026 Kansas Jayhawks center Paul Mbiya is scheduled to arrive on campus in Lawrence for summer school workouts Monday after spending the past few weeks in France, KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self confirmed Thursday in a text message to The Star. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026 Specifically, the University of Florida Gators men’s basketball team. Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The younger Freeman played football, basketball and tennis as a child, but fell in love with soccer when his stepfather Jake Hinkle introduced him to the game. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for basketball

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basketball was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Basketball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basketball. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

basketball

noun
bas·​ket·​ball -ˌbȯl How to pronounce basketball (audio)
: a court game in which each of two teams tries to toss an inflated ball through a raised goal
also : the ball used in this game

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