What does badminton mean?
Badminton is a racquet sport in which two or four players strike a feathered or synthetic projectile called a shuttlecock over a high net, aiming to land it within the opposing court before their opponents can return it. Played indoors to avoid wind interference, it can be contested as singles or doubles and demands exceptional speed, agility, and reflexes — competitive smashes are among the fastest strokes recorded in any racket sport. The game takes its name from Badminton House, the Gloucestershire estate of the Duke of Beaufort, where it was popularised among the British elite in the nineteenth century after evolving from older games such as battledore and shuttlecock, which had been played by British officers in India. Today badminton is a global sport with a major international circuit and a prominent place in the Olympic Games, particularly beloved across Asia and Europe.
nounA racquet sport for two or four players in which a lightweight shuttlecock is hit back and forth over a high net, scoring points when the opponent fails to return it.
- The racquet-and-shuttlecock sport played on an indoor court divided by a high net.
"They play badminton every Sunday morning at the community centre."
"She took up badminton to stay fit during the winter months."
"The Olympic final featured some of the fastest badminton ever seen."
'Badminton' is a mass noun referring to the sport itself and does not take a plural form; individual items are counted instead (e.g., two badminton rackets).
"We booked two badminton courts for Saturday afternoon."
Badminton is one of the fastest racket sports on Earth — competitive smashes have been clocked at over 400 km/h.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of badminton
The word 'badminton' comes from Badminton House, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, where the modern game was popularised in the mid-nineteenth century. The sport itself developed from battledore and shuttlecock, a pastime long played by British military officers stationed in India, who added a net to create a competitive game often associated with Poona. The estate's name itself is of Old English origin, but its connection to the sport gave the game the single-word name that spread worldwide with codified rules and international federation play.
How badminton is actually used
Always written as one word. The verb form is simply 'play badminton' — English has no derived verb like 'to badminton'. The sport is especially popular in East and Southeast Asia and Europe, and is governed internationally by the Badminton World Federation.