basketball

noun

bas·​ket·​ball ˈba-skit-ˌbȯl How to pronounce basketball (audio)
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
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Related As a radio personality who’s well-versed in public feuds, Charlamagne shared some advice for EJ — the child of basketball legend Magic Johnson — which revolved around being smarter about choosing his opposition. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 The price is believed to be the highest ever paid for basketball memorabilia. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 From Olympic champions to professional basketball players, these athletes have helped shape sports history while opening doors for those who follow. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 The technology has already been tested in the NBA's G League, Summer League, and some preseason games, where players used basketballs both with and without the chip. — Jessica Golden, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for basketball

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basketball was in 1877

Phrases Containing basketball

Rhymes for basketball

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Browse Nearby Words

basket ash
basketball
basketballer
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Cite this Entry

“Basketball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basketball. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

basketball

noun
bas·​ket·​ball -ˌbȯl How to pronounce basketball (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on basketball

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about basketball

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