ball game
Americannoun
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ball games
plural
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any game played with a ball, especially baseball or softball.
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Informal. a situation and all its attendant circumstances.
Having a new administration in power changes the entire ball game at city hall.
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Archaeology. a ceremonial game of both ritual and sporting significance, played by teams on a ball court in Mesoamerican cultures from the Preclassic period to the Spanish conquest.
noun
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any game played with a ball
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a game of baseball
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informal a situation; state of affairs (esp in the phrase a whole new ball game )
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ball game
An Americanism dating back to 1840–50
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.
But teaming up for a full 39-day tournament is likely to be a different ball game.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Selling homes is a whole different ball game, and you have to bring something to the table.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026
Because I think if we fall short of that, that’s the end of the ball game.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2025
Instead, a half-inning later, the Marlins made it a brand new ball game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2025
One small boy was absorbed in a ball game with a cat with luminescent fur.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
