ballpark

1 of 3

noun

ball·​park ˈbȯl-ˌpärk How to pronounce ballpark (audio)
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

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
Phrases
in the ballpark
: approximately correct
my first guess wasn't even in the ballpark

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In 2019, it was reported that Eddie Murphy signed a deal with Netflix for $70 million for a couple of standup specials, which would put him in the ballpark with other successful comedians like Dave Chappelle. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Nov. 2025 While the ballpark and its lots are exempt from property taxes, a payment in lieu of those taxes could potentially total $19 million annually. Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
But Furman said a ballpark range could be one percentage point of cumulative inflation added, or about half a percentage point extra per year for a couple of years. Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 12 Nov. 2025 Rivas, who had not come to bat in the series, celebrated in style by lashing Holton’s second pitch for a game-tying single to left — and the fans here made this ballpark shake. The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballpark was in 1871

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ballpark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballpark. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

ballpark

1 of 2 noun
ball·​park ˈbȯl-ˌpärk How to pronounce ballpark (audio)
: a park in which ball games are played

ballpark

2 of 2 adjective
: approximately correct
a ballpark figure
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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