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

Now the church itself hosted dances and houseboat parties and sponsored a youth softball team of which Nell Fisher was the manager. — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Also the softball field had a protective fence demolished earlier this week that was a safety measure to protect fans and dugouts could be next demolished. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

The day before commencement, Metze spent the afternoon watching Texas Tech softball on TV. — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Open tournaments will also be introduced for football, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, fastpitch softball, baseball and girls flag football. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Sep. 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