bocce

noun

boc·​ce ˈbä-chē How to pronounce bocce (audio)
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
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.
Pinstripes, an entertainment venue known for dining, bowling and bocce, closed 10 stores after filing for bankruptcy. Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 Pinstripes offered Italian-American food as well as bowling, bocce and other entertainment options, plus a large party space. Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025 Is Johnson County’s bowling and bocce bistro no more? Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bocce was in 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Bocce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bocce. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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