A fadeaway is a basketball shot where the shooter jumps backward, away from the basket, while releasing the ball. Picture a player with a defender right in their face: instead of jumping straight up where the defender might block the shot, they lean and jump away from the basket, creating space between themselves and the defender's outstretched arms.

The fadeaway is one of basketball's most difficult shots because you're moving in the opposite direction from your target. It's like trying to toss a ball into a basket while walking backward: you need exceptional body control, timing, and touch. Players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant became famous for their fadeaway shots, making them look smooth and effortless even though they required years of practice.

The word perfectly captures what happens: the shooter fades away from the defender and the basket. Outside of basketball, people sometimes use fadeaway to describe anything that gradually disappears or retreats, like a fadeaway voice getting quieter and quieter until it can't be heard anymore.