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
: 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
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
More Sargent/Getty Images The sheer insanity of how fast the ball got out of the ballpark captivated a worldwide audience.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 1 Sep. 2025
The ballpark atmosphere alongside San Francisco Bay bristled with energy, even for the four seasons after the final World Series victory.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
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
This spending puts them in the same ballpark as Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City, but is still shy of Chelsea, who have spent more than £2bn in the same period, although their net spend will be much lower than that figure given their success at selling players.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
More Sargent/Getty Images The sheer insanity of how fast the ball got out of the ballpark captivated a worldwide audience.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Angels right fielder Jo Adell, who was injured crashing into the same fence when playing left field in 2021, said the ballpark design is unsafe.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 1 Sep. 2025
The ballpark atmosphere alongside San Francisco Bay bristled with energy, even for the four seasons after the final World Series victory.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 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
Cite this Entry
“Ballpark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballpark. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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