batting average

noun

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of batting average

1 : a ratio (such as a rate per thousand) of base hits to official times at bat for a baseball player

2 : a record of achievement or accomplishment

See batting average defined for English-language learners

See batting average defined for kids

Examples of batting average in a Sentence

an excellent hitter with a batting average above .300

Recent Examples of batting average from the Web

By comparison, Ian Happ’s batting average is .233 but his BABIP (calculated by hits minus home runs, divided by at-bats minus home runs minus strikeouts plus sacrifice flies) is .396.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Cubs' Joe Maddon just wants Anthony Rizzo to wait out his struggles," 17 May 2018
The switch-hitter had been particular woeful batting right-handed (.143 batting average) but collected two hits off Corbin before adding a lefty homer later against reliever Fernando Salas.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "After fattening up early against weak teams, Brewers now showing they can beat contenders," 15 May 2018
Nicholas Castellanos is on pace for career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

— vito chirco, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers: Five numbers you need to know this week," 14 May 2018
Entering Saturday night, Davis was slashing .435/.488/.657 and sat atop the Pacific Coast League leaderboard in batting average and on-base percentage.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "J.D. Davis has been on fire since his demotion to AAA Fresno," 12 May 2018
The Yard Goats were hitting .194 as a team after six games, all losses, but are 17-6 since, and the team batting average has risen to .254, tied for third in the Eastern League behind New Hampshire (.272) and Reading (.256).

— dom amore, courant.com, "Yard Goats Still Rolling, Beat Portland 12-4 To Finish Sweep," 6 May 2018
Pitching has been the team's mainstay this season with a team ERA well under three runs and team batting average under .250.

— rick mauch, star-telegram, "Texas A&M commit excited for L.D. Bell postseason run | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 3 May 2018
Margot has three hits in his past 11 at-bats to raise his season batting average to .159 (with a .245 on-base percentage).

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres notes: Myers, Margot on track; Lucchesi's limits; Headley's hitting," 16 Apr. 2018
Samford's pitchers finished the series with a 0.33 team ERA, as well as a miniscule .147 opponents' batting average, while only allowing a total of 14 hits in three matchups.

— samford athletics, AL.com, "Samford baseball takes 12-game winning streak to Tuscaloosa to face Tide Tuesday," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'batting average.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of batting average

1867

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

BATTING AVERAGE Defined for English Language Learners

batting average

noun

Definition of batting average for English Language Learners

baseball : a number that shows how often a batter gets a base hit

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up batting average? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

batting average

Definition of batting average

Examples of batting average in a Sentence

Recent Examples of batting average from the Web

First Known Use of batting average

BATTING AVERAGE Defined for English Language Learners

batting average

Definition of batting average for English Language Learners

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

riposte

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Noun + Verb Insult Generator

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

batting average

Definition of batting average

Examples of batting average in a Sentence

Recent Examples of batting average from the Web

First Known Use of batting average

BATTING AVERAGE Defined for English Language Learners

batting average

Definition of batting average for English Language Learners

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word