basketball

American  

[bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit-] / ˈbæs kɪtˌbɔl, ˈbɑ skɪt- /

noun

1. a game played by two teams of usually five players each on a rectangular court having a raised basket or goal at each end, points being scored by tossing the ball through the opponent's basket.

2. the round, inflated ball approximately 30 inches (76 centimeters) in circumference, used in this game.

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basketball British  

/ ˈbɑːskɪtˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a game played by two opposing teams of five men (or six women) each, usually on an indoor court. Points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal metal hoop

2. the inflated ball used in this game

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Other Word Forms

• probasketball adjective

Etymology

Origin of basketball

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; basket + ball ¹

Example Sentences

“I have to go to my son’s basketball game after this. I don’t want to re-create the scene from ‘Hoosiers.’”

From The Wall Street Journal

“Then, once you blitz him, then you have advantage basketball and we like our chances.”

From Los Angeles Times

A look at The Times’ top 25 boys’ basketball rankings for the Southland after Week 2.

From Los Angeles Times

Peacock’s also got NFL Sunday Night Football, and a full slate of NBA, college basketball, Premier League soccer and winter sports.

From MarketWatch

The Etiwanda girls’ basketball team is off to a 5-0 start, and the defending state champions showed on Saturday night that they’re not ready to give up their title without a fight.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ball