softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl 

1

: a sport similar to baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand

also : the ball used in this game

2

: a question requiring only an easy or simple response

softballer

ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯ-lər 

noun

Examples of softball in a Sentence

Do you want to play softball?

All the questions in the interview were softballs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Travis has a softball tournament every year at their stadium, so someone gave us 10 tickets for the Astroworld Festival. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025

Joining the Poway Padres, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies on the field at Poway Sportsplex USA will be San Diego Team 18U Vargas, a local girls travel softball team with members who attend Poway High, Rubino said. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025

As a kid, Emily, now 26, says her dad came to every softball game and spent hours with her at the batting cages. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

Baker grew up in Atchison, Kansas, and was a standout softball player, Matthews said, with a tinge of pride. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for softball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl 

: baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand

also : the ball used in this game