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passed ball

American  
[past bawl] / ˈpæst ˌbɔl /

noun

Baseball.
  1. a pitched ball that the catcher can reasonably be expected to catch but misses, allowing one or more base runners to advance one or more bases.


Etymology

Origin of passed ball

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A passed ball broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

Edison 9, Newport Harbor 8: The Chargers won it in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2025

Richland would add a fourth run in the bottom of the fourth when Carter Upmeyer scored on a passed ball.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2024

After Brenton Doyle’s RBI single, Ezequiel Tovar scored on a passed ball to tie it, and with two outs, Elias Díaz delivered a go-ahead double that sent Colorado to a 10-9 win.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 29, 2024

Got it to the umpire on the last passed ball.

From The Redheaded Outfield by Grey, Zane

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