basketball

[ bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit- ]

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.

basketball

/ 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

Other Words From

• pro·basket·ball adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of basketball¹

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

Example Sentences

“It also shows a level of basketball IQ. And I thought our guys were great with that”

From Los Angeles Times

Some five years after the final Beck arrived at a basketball game where Chastain was working as a TV reporter.

From BBC

Roberts’ basketball career began in Redding, where she was a guard on the Enterprise High basketball team.

From Los Angeles Times

“So, it doesn’t matter. Defensively, I thought we did a good job... and then rebounding the basketball.”

From Los Angeles Times

What’s a high school basketball team supposed to do when a week before its season begins, the starting point guard and a former player are found shot to death?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ball