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Definition of airball

airball

/ˈɛər.bɔːl/
air · ball
Plural:airballs
•
Past Simple:airballed
•
Past Participle:airballed
•
Present Participle:airballing
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airball Lexical Profile

airball Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American In basketball, an unblocked shot that misses the basket, rim, and backboard completely.

Example

"The crowd jeered loudly after the visiting point guard threw up a badly missed airball from the three-point line."

2

North American An attempt, joke, or remark that fails completely to achieve its intended effect.

Example

"His opening joke at the conference was a total airball that left the entire auditorium in awkward silence."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

North American To shoot a basketball so poorly that it misses the basket, rim, and backboard completely.

Example

"Exhausted in the fourth quarter, the rookie airballed his second free throw."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for airball

• Nearby Words

aira
aira falls
airbag
airball
airbase
airbed
airboat

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American basketball slang in the late 1960s, combining 'air' and 'ball' in reference to a shot that touches nothing but air.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Airball. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/airball
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