noun

pinball

PIHN-bawl

Pinball (noun) means an arcade game played on a sloped table, where a player launches and controls a metal ball to hit targets and score points. Example: “They spent the whole evening playing pinball at the arcade.”

noun

An arcade game played on a sloped table, where a player launches and controls a metal ball to hit targets and score points.

"They spent the whole evening playing pinball at the arcade."

How to use pinball

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe classic arcade game with flippers, ramps, and a metal ball.

Common pairings

a pinball machine play pinball

Word forms

pinballed past tense, pinballs plural, pinballs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “pinball” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They spent the whole evening playing _____ at the arcade.

Etymology

A compound of "pin" and "ball."

Synonyms

View more →

silver ball

Frequently asked questions

What does “pinball” mean?

The word “pinball” means an arcade game played on a sloped table, where a player launches and controls a metal ball to hit targets and score points. In plain terms, the classic arcade game with flippers, ramps, and a metal ball.

How do you pronounce “pinball”?

“Pinball” is pronounced PIHN-bawl (/ˈpɪnˌbɔːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pinball” in a sentence?

Here is “pinball” used in a sentence: “They spent the whole evening playing pinball at the arcade.”

What is another word for “pinball”?

Words with a similar meaning to “pinball” include silver ball.

What part of speech is “pinball”?

“Pinball” is a noun.