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

So what happened to the softball game? —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026

For the first time in school history, Texas softball will enter the season as reigning national champions after winning last season’s Women’s College World Series. —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026

Conservative institutions quickly came under pressure to condemn Carlson for his softball sit-down with the David Duke of the digital age. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026

In the city of South Gate, there’s three high schools nearby one another, which draws fans to gyms, football fields, soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 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