noun
B1
Intermediate
handball
Handball (noun) means a team sport in which players throw and bounce a ball, trying to score by throwing it into the opposing goal. Example: “Handball is hugely popular in parts of Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavia.”
noun
1
A team sport in which players throw and bounce a ball, trying to score by throwing it into the opposing goal.
"Handball is hugely popular in parts of Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavia."
2
(soccer) The offense of a player, other than the goalkeeper, touching the ball with their hand or arm.
"It was a dramatic finish to an absorbing, fast-paced game but Blackburn will be deeply unhappy with referee Anthony Taylor as Nzonzi's handball was harsh."
— Neil Johnston, Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn (2011)
"The referee awarded a penalty for handball inside the box."
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Word forms
- Plural
- handballs
- Third person singular
- handballs
- Past tense
- handballed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is hugely popular in parts of Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavia.
Etymology
A compound of hand and ball, naming the sport by its defining action.
Synonyms
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sport involving bouncing a ball off a wall
Frequently asked questions
What does “handball” mean?
The word “handball” means a team sport in which players throw and bounce a ball, trying to score by throwing it into the opposing goal.
How do you use “handball” in a sentence?
Here is “handball” used in a sentence: “Handball is hugely popular in parts of Europe, especially Germany and Scandinavia.”
What is another word for “handball”?
Words with a similar meaning to “handball” include sport involving bouncing a ball off a wall.
What part of speech is “handball”?
“Handball” is a noun.
How many meanings does “handball” have?
“Handball” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a team sport in which players throw and bounce a ball, trying to score by throwing it into the opposing goal.
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