basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball ˈba-skit-ˌbȯl 

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

There are pictures of him in college basketball with his face and the American flag behind it. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025

Unlike the basketball versions, NASCAR’s competition will take place entirely within the existing race schedule. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 June 2025

That outing made Queen only the second freshman in college basketball since 1996-97 to register a 20-20 performance in his college debut, joining Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (32 points and 24 rebounds) in 2007. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025

His mentality to do whatever helps the team most also projects well into his being a positive-value player who helps winning basketball teams throughout his career. —Tony Jones, New York Times, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing basketball

• fantasy football/baseball/basketball

Rhymes for basketball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball -ˌbȯl 

: 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