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
: approximately correct : roughly estimated
a ballpark price
a ballpark figure
ballparked; ballparking; ballparks
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
Michael PhillipsWhen I work with clients I remind them that we are just ballparking the numbers.—Bill Conerly
Bill ConerlyHe 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
Lee ChildExamples 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
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The 4,500-capacity ballpark, which is home to a small pro baseball league of four local teams, has officially been renamed UWM Field.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
The ballpark episode this season was one listed on several ‘best episodes of the year’ lists.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Cheng ballparks it as somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000.
—Nerdwallet, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballpark
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Noun
The small-market Brewers delighted in knocking out the Cubs from the playoffs this past fall, even posing with an L flag that a fan brought into the ballpark.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The 4,500-capacity ballpark, which is home to a small pro baseball league of four local teams, has officially been renamed UWM Field.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
His group sought to calculate a ballpark price for Greenland by looking both at its natural resource reserves and its potential real estate value.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
The ballpark episode this season was one listed on several ‘best episodes of the year’ lists.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Jan. 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
Cheng ballparks it as somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000.
—Nerdwallet, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballpark
Cite this Entry
“Ballpark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballpark. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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