handball

noun

hand·​ball ˈhan(d)-ˌbȯl 

1

: a game played in a walled court or against a single wall or board by two or four players who use their hands to strike the ball

2

: a small rubber ball used in handball

Examples of handball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Guarding the goal, a player commits a foul or a handball, resulting in a penalty kick to the opposition. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Paz was subsequently penalised for a handball and Gianluca Caprari converted the spot kick, sending Pep Reina diving the wrong way. —David Ferrini, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

In a particular scene in Big, Hanks and John Heard (who played Paul) are playing handball together, and Moscow says the scene reminds him of his childhood friend Ernest. —Sara Belcher, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024

Then there are questions of club owners, ticket prices and kick-off times, not to mention the video assistant referee (VAR) system and a new handball interpretation. —Michael Walker, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing handball

• team handball

Kids Definition

handball

noun

hand·​ball -ˌbȯl 

1

: a game played in a walled court or against a single wall or board by two or four players who use their hands to strike a ball

2

: the ball used in handball