fastball

noun

fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl 

: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed and often appearing to rise slightly as it nears the plate

fastballer

ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯ-lər 

noun

Examples of fastball in a Sentence

He struck him out with a fastball.

Recent Examples on the Web

His fastball is the highlight of his scouting report, averaging 99.7 mph and touching 102. —Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Grant Taylor displayed his blazing fastball during a 1-2-3 first inning in his first major-league start. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

Weaver had previously allowed just two home runs this season, but Urías, a low-key Yankee killer, took advantage of the Bronx’s short right field porch and sent a fastball over the glove of a leaping Judge. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025

A couple of innings later, Padres starter Randy Vásquez threw a fastball inside and low to Ohtani, causing Ohtani to jump out of the way. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fastball

• cut fastball
• split-fingered fastball

Rhymes for fastball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

fastball

noun

fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl 

: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed