broomball: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Specialist; Informal
Quick answer
What does “broomball” mean?
A team sport played on ice where players wear special shoes and use brooms to hit a ball.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A team sport played on ice where players wear special shoes and use brooms to hit a ball.
Can refer to the equipment used (the stick or 'broom'), a single match of the sport, or the broader community/culture surrounding it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The sport is virtually unknown in the UK. The term is almost exclusively used in North American contexts, particularly Canada and the northern US.
Connotations
In North America: connotations of community, winter recreation, informal competition, university intramurals. In the UK: no specific connotations; the term would likely be misunderstood.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British English. Niche but recognizable in American and especially Canadian English in regions with winter sports culture.
Grammar
How to Use “broomball” in a Sentence
play [broomball]organise/arrange [a game/match of broomball]join [a broomball league]watch [broomball]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broomball” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- (Non-standard, informal) We're going to broomball on the frozen pond this afternoon.
adjective
American English
- He's the star of our broomball league.
- They have a strict broomball equipment policy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in context of sporting goods or community centre programme descriptions.
Academic
Rare. Could appear in sports science or sociology papers on niche winter sports.
Everyday
Used conversationally in communities where the sport is played (e.g., 'Are you playing broomball tonight?').
Technical
Primary usage context. Used in rulebooks, league names, and equipment specifications for the sport.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broomball”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broomball”
- Confusing 'broomball' (the sport) with a 'broom' used for cleaning.
- Misspelling as 'broom ball' (two words); the standard is one word.
- Using it as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'We will broomball' – non-standard; correct: 'We will play broomball').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are played on ice, broomball uses a ball and a 'broom' (a stick with a plastic or foam head). Players wear special rubber-soled shoes instead of ice skates.
The sport is most popular in Canada and the northern United States, often played in community leagues and as a university intramural sport.
Yes. Basic equipment includes a broomball stick ('broom'), a small ball, and specialised non-slip shoes designed for ice. Helmets are also highly recommended.
In formal usage, it is a noun only ('play broomball'). Informally, especially in North American contexts where the sport is known, it is sometimes verbed ('Let's go broomballing'), but this is non-standard.
A team sport played on ice where players wear special shoes and use brooms to hit a ball.
Broomball is usually technical/specialist; informal in register.
Broomball: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbruːm.bɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbruːm.bɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: You use a BROOM to sweep a BALL across the ICE.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPORT IS WAR (e.g., 'defend the goal', 'attack the opposition's zone'); GAME IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'a long season', 'the road to the finals').
Practice
Quiz
Broomball is best described as: