pinball

Word family

• pinballer
  nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Pinball specifically refers to a coin-operated machine game where a metal ball is launched onto a sloping board and the player uses flippers to keep it in play. Arcade game is a much broader term covering pinball, video games, claw machines, and any other coin-operated entertainment found in an arcade — use it when the specific type of game is unknown or irrelevant. Bagatelle is the historical table game from the 1700s that inspired pinball; it lacks flippers and electronic scoring, and the term is almost never used today outside of historical discussions. For everyday conversation, stick with pinball for the machine and arcade game when describing the general activity.

Common collocations

Etymology

The word pinball is a compound of pin (referring to the metal pins or bumpers on the board) and ball. The modern game evolved from the 18th-century French table game bagatelle, which used a cue stick and pins. The term pinball began appearing in US English around the 1930s, when coin-operated versions became popular in arcades. The familiar machine with electrically powered flippers was introduced in 1947.