Naismith

American

[ney-smith] / ˈneɪ smɪθ /

noun

James, 1861–1939, U.S. physical-education teacher and originator of basketball, born in Canada.

Naismith British

/ ˈneɪsmɪθ /

noun

James. 1861–1939, Canadian sportsman and coach; inventor of basketball

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

At 3-0, in the dugout, Clarke's assistant Steven Naismith was having certain thoughts.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

"Give us six numbers for the lotto, boss," said Naismith.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

As a sophomore, she won the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, Big Ten Player of the Year and became the first USC player ever named the Associated Press player of the year.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2025

"They speak for themselves," Dick had assured him, and turned aside to give data to Naismith for his impending article on Shropshires in California and the Northwest.

From The Little Lady of the Big House by London, Jack

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023