softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce softball (audio)
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 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 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 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of softball was in 1867

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.

Kids Definition

softball

noun
soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce softball (audio)
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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