noun
hockey
HO-kee
noun
1
A team sport in which players use curved sticks to hit a ball or puck into a goal.
"They watched a thrilling hockey match at the local rink."
2
Ice hockey specifically, played on a rink with skates and a puck.
"Canada is famous for its passion for hockey."
3
Field hockey specifically, played on grass or turf with a ball.
"The school's hockey team practices on the pitch every afternoon."
How to Use Hockey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stick-and-goal team sport, played either on ice (ice hockey) or on a field (field hockey).
UK vs US
In the US, "hockey" alone usually means ice hockey; in the UK, it usually means field hockey unless "ice" is specified.
Word Forms
Hockeys plural
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They watched a thrilling _____ match at the local rink.
Etymology
First recorded in the 16th century; origin uncertain, but possibly linked to "hook", referring to the curved shape of the stick.