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

Lake Mary’s girls fastpitch softball squad won district, section, state and region tournaments to qualify for the fastpitch softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina. —Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025

Guilford Little League softball coach Andrea Klein knew that Tuesday night’s game against Florida in the Little League Softball World Series would be tough. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2025

According to her obituary, Libby was involved in softball, volleyball, soccer and swimming. —Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 5 Aug. 2025

Saturday offered a fishing derby at Willow Lake Park and a softball tournament at Fearn Park, followed by a Touch-A-Truck opportunity and plenty of food and entertainment. —David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 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