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
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
Both girls are also involved in sports, including softball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
—
Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
Birmingham flag football coach Jim Rose also coaches the softball team.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2023
That only comes through independent questioning, rather than softballs from a university employee.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2023
The Mall and its surrounding areas have been home to games such as hockey, volleyball and softball, said Catherine Townsend, president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall, which is holding the event along with Humana, a health care company.
—Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Flag football, softball, squash and lacrosse would also be included in 2028 under the proposal.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023
Japan loves baseball, and along with softball the sport was added back in Tokyo in 2020.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023
Baseball and softball were introduced in the 1990s before being removed from competition after the 2008 Olympics, only to appear in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a combined sport, per CNN.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023
There is no in-between incentive for softball reaching the Super Regional last spring or the three previous Sweet 16s that the men’s basketball team reached before losing.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Oct. 2023
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Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
Birmingham flag football coach Jim Rose also coaches the softball team.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2023
That only comes through independent questioning, rather than softballs from a university employee.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2023
The Mall and its surrounding areas have been home to games such as hockey, volleyball and softball, said Catherine Townsend, president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall, which is holding the event along with Humana, a health care company.
—Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Flag football, softball, squash and lacrosse would also be included in 2028 under the proposal.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023
Japan loves baseball, and along with softball the sport was added back in Tokyo in 2020.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023
Baseball and softball were introduced in the 1990s before being removed from competition after the 2008 Olympics, only to appear in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a combined sport, per CNN.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023
There is no in-between incentive for softball reaching the Super Regional last spring or the three previous Sweet 16s that the men’s basketball team reached before losing.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'softball.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to softball
Dictionary Entries Near softball
Cite this Entry
“Softball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softball. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on softball
Nglish: Translation of softball for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about softball
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