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

The team isn’t in Las Vegas yet, making do in the meantime at a small minor-league ballpark in Sacramento, Calif. —Evan Drellich, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026

Winner Sandy Alcantara — the Marlins’ ace, pitching in his home ballpark — gave up three runs and five hits while striking out three in three innings. —Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026

Adjective

While some guests dig into stats and delightfully wonky debates (best Reds clutch hitter of all time, for example), Greiner and Freking also steer the conversation to topics any fan can appreciate – like ballpark food favorites and spirited discussions about the best baseball movie ever made. —Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2026

As the Royals continue their search for a new ballpark location, there’s been a bit of angst among some fans. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 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

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