ballpark

1 of 3

noun

ball·​park ˈbȯl-ˌpärk 

1

: a park or stadium in which ball games (such as baseball) are played

2

: a range (as of prices or views) within which comparison or compromise is possible

see also:

in the ballpark

ballpark

2 of 3

adjective

: approximately correct : roughly estimated

a ballpark price

a ballpark figure

ballpark

3 of 3

verb

ballparked; ballparking; ballparks

transitive verb

informal

: to estimate (something) roughly or casually : to give a ballpark estimate of (something, such as a number or price)

The track doesn't release attendance numbers, but media members ballparked it at 42,500 in the facility, which seats more than 50,000.

—Michael Phillips

When I work with clients I remind them that we are just ballparking the numbers.

—Bill Conerly

He looked at the ceiling. He looked at the walls. He turned this way and that, craning his neck, like a contractor about to ballpark an estimate.

—Lee Child

Synonyms of ballpark

Adjective

• approximate
• inaccurate
• approximative

Examples of ballpark in a Sentence

Noun

hit a home run out of the ballpark

Adjective

We don't know exactly how many people live in this city, but a ballpark figure would be about two million.

I suspect that the ballpark costs we were quoted for the kitchen renovation will turn out to be too low.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His ballpark and facilities fell into disrepair, a situation that may be remedied under the stewardship of new owner Stan Kroenke, who entered an agreement to purchase the team this week at a $4 billion valuation. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

With the Angels, Plan A for Kroenke is almost certainly building a new ballpark and community on the Angel Stadium site, the kind of large urban parcel that is rarely available, and better yet close to freeways and public transit. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Adjective

For many users, a ballpark calorie count may serve as a suitable source of encouragement to push a little harder in their workout. — Mike McRae 03, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

The move to Vegas was contingent on the state of Nevada approving $380 million of public funds to the Vegas ballpark project, which happened on June 15, 2023. — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Verb

The average cost of an IVF cycle varies widely, but ballparks around $15,000, and many would-be parents need more than one cycle to successfully become pregnant. — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

These systems come in different shapes, sizes and configurations, but May ballparks the average cost of one suited to a single-family home or an ADU like Ferrari’s at $8,000 to $10,000. — Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from the phrase in the ballpark

First Known Use

Noun

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1957, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ballpark

• in the ballpark

Rhymes for ballpark

• benchmark
• birthmark
• daymark
• earmark
• embark
• hallmark
• landmark
• monarch
• postmark
• remark
• skylark
• tetrarch

Kids Definition

ballpark

1 of 2 noun

ball·​park ˈbȯl-ˌpärk 

: a park in which ball games are played

ballpark

2 of 2 adjective

: approximately correct

a ballpark figure