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

Ellison is also on the defendant side of a lawsuit by three other Minnesota girls' softball pitchers, who have remained anonymous, alleging their Title IX rights were violated this past season too. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Karen Knox, Gwenlyn Cumyn, Emma Hunter, Chelsea Muirhead, Lane Webber, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah and Amanda Cordner also star, with women’s softball legend Ayami Sato making a guest appearance. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025

Ahmu played volleyball and softball at Serra High School, now known as Canyon Hills. —Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025

The high school softball player, hoping to major in psychology, was recruited to the KU women’s rowing team. —Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025

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