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

Southern Section baseball and softball pairings will be announced on Monday. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025

Vote for the Fort Worth-area softball regional semifinal most valuable Player. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2025

Fresh from winning a third straight Mountain West Tournament championship, San Diego State’s softball team will face Arizona State (35-19) Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at UCLA. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025

The Southeastern Conference announced Saturday that Texas A&M and Oklahoma would be Co-champions for the SEC softball tournament. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 11 May 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