softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl 

1

: a sport similar to baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand

also : the ball used in this game

2

: a question requiring only an easy or simple response

softballer

ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯ-lər 

noun

Examples of softball in a Sentence

Do you want to play softball?

All the questions in the interview were softballs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Here are the softball teams and players to follow in the Daily News area now that league play is beginning. —Matt Wagner, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026

The Texas high school softball season is ramping up, and several Fort Worth-area athletes had strong games. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026

Kirk Still isn’t a huge fan of the popcorn available at McCombs Field, where the Texas Longhorns play their home softball games. —David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026

Jaquez has gotten attention for being part of a family legacy at UCLA and spending an offseason with the Bruins’ softball team. —Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for softball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl 

: baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand

also : the ball used in this game