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

The Championship Series not only saw sellout crowds, but Game 1 was also the first professional softball game to air on broadcast television (ABC). — Molly Keshin, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Baseball, softball and dropping out of college Apgar bats right-handed, resting the bat on the flat part of the nub on her right arm. — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

Smith, who grew up in the Florida Panhandle, recalled her own experience being one of just two Black girls on her high school softball team. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 25 July 2026

On the rocket ship that is women’s sports, softball is a few steps behind basketball or soccer. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 24 July 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