Roundball means: The sport of basketball.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
roundball
(US, slang, originally, African American) The sport of basketball.
ˈɹaʊndˌbɑlDocumented since 1980s1980sGen Xhistorical133 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1980 · no dated citations yetGen X eraSee decade cohort →
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(US, slang, originally, African American) The sport of basketball.
Origin: From , to contrast with the elliptical ball in American football. Attested from the 1980s. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Roundball means: The sport of basketball.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
roundball means: The sport of basketball.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "roundball" (R)
Rough Ridersroughscuffroughyroukooproulementroundaboutroundballerround bracketroundelroundhouseround inroundsman
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(US, slang) A basketball player.
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American slang for a basketball player — using 'round ball' (as opposed to the oblong ball of American football) to distinguish the sport. Used informally and sometimes affectionately in sports commentary and conversation, particularly in contrast to gridironers or football players.
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(slang) basketball.
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(uncountable, US, derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) The sport of basketball.
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(chiefly, derogatory, ethnic slur, internet slang) An African-American person.