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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.
"The referee awarded a penalty for handball inside the box."

Word forms

handballed past tense, handballs plural, handballs singular

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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.

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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