hockey

noun

hock·​ey ˈhä-kē How to pronounce hockey (audio)
1
: field hockey
2
: ice hockey

Examples of hockey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some fans online have criticized the decision to cast a non-plus sized actor to play the character of Harris, who was described as chubbier than the hockey players of the book. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026 Logan worked in sports marketing, in particular around basketball and hockey. — Jonathan Tannenwald, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 The arena plays host to UConn basketball and hockey and is starting to attract a more robust lineup of concerts. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 McRae's return to the NHL after a prior relationship with a hockey player was never officially confirmed. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hockey

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Middle French hoquet shepherd's crook, diminutive of hoc hook, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hōc hook

First Known Use

1527, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hockey was in 1527

Phrases Containing hockey

Rhymes for hockey

See All Rhymes for hockey

Browse Nearby Words

hocket
hockey
hockeyist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hockey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hockey. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on hockey

Nglish: Translation of hockey for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hockey

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All