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

Corneils has been playing softball since grade school but began catching in eighth grade. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026

Western Michigan freshman softball player Kendall Kotzmacher is in the process of filing her taxes for the first time. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026

Welcome to the high school softball edition of the Fastball, a Star-Telegram series highlighting Fort Worth-area teams. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

Kay’la Jones had 2 home runs for Deltona Trinity softball. —Johnny Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 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