漆弹是一种以漆弹枪射出漆弹，击中目标后产生标记以供计分的运动。

漆弹发射其的前身是气动式的麻醉枪，美国西部牛仔为了麻醉病畜，将之隔出治疗或扑杀，但麻醉针剂平时练习不便使用，故便以装填颜料的圆球练习。在追逐牲畜的同时，便发展出漆弹运动的雏型，但与现在的运动型漆弹赛仍有些许不同，当时是由长者在牲畜上做好标记，参赛者再以漆弹射击于众多牲畜群中的特定牲畜。

漆弹运动渐渐普及，军警单位亦利用此项运动的特性，仿真实战训练。时至今日，漆弹运动已可分为两大走向：运动竞技型、战争游戏型。

Paintball is a game developed in the 1980s in which players eliminate opponents from play by hitting them with dye-filled, breakable, oil and gelatin paintballs, or pellets, usually shot from a carbon dioxide or compressed air (Nitrogen) powered “paintball marker”. The game is regularly played at a sporting level with organized competition involving major tournaments, professional teams, and players. Paintball technology is also used by military forces, law enforcement, para-military and security organizations to supplement military training, as well as playing a role in riot response, and non-lethal suppression of dangerous suspects.