Badminton is a racquet sport in which players hit a shuttlecock across a net with racquets. Although larger teams can be used, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is frequently played as a casual outdoor activity in a backyard or on a beach, whereas formal games are played on a rectangular indoor court. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the half-court of the opposing team.

Each team may only hit the shuttlecock once before it crosses the net. The game is over when the shuttlecock hits the ground.

The game evolved from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock in British India. Denmark came to dominate European play, but the game has grown in popularity in Asia, with China dominating recent competitions. Badminton debuted as a Summer Olympic sport in 1992, with four events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, and women's doubles; four years later, mixed doubles was added. At the highest levels of competition, players must be physically fit: they must have aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed, and precision. It is also a technical sport that necessitates good motor coordination and the development of complex racquet movements.