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

After star senior Nora Hamel roped a double off the left field wall just a foot shy of a home run in the third inning Friday afternoon, Newton North softball coach Lauren Baugher flexed her biceps at her in celebration, which Hamel mirrored. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026

The win ended the Razorbacks’ first appearance on college softball’s biggest stage. —Tim Willert, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

Liberty won its first softball state title since 2022 and fourth overall. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026

Torrey Pines coach Julie Neubauer opened the softball program at Steele Canyon. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 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