# skittles

/ˈskɪtəɫz/ (US) · /skˈɪtəlz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skittles
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a game where you throw a ball to knock down wooden pins. It is similar to bowling, but the pins are smaller and the ball is smaller too.

For teachers: a game in which a player throws a ball to knock down a set of pins. Often used in the plural to refer to the game itself or the pins.

## Examples

- We played a few games of skittles at the pub.
- The children spent the afternoon playing skittles in the garden, trying to knock down the wooden pins with a small ball.
- While professional bowling requires a heavy ball and a long lane, skittles is a more accessible social game that can be played in smaller spaces with lighter equipment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.