ballpark

American  

[bawl-pahrk] / ˈbɔlˌpɑrk /

Or ball park

noun

1. a tract of land where ball games, especially baseball, are played.

2. a baseball stadium.

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adjective

1. Informal. being an approximation, based on an educated guess.

   Give me a ballpark figure on our total expenses for next year.

idioms

1. in the ballpark, within reasonable, acceptable, or expected limits.

   The price may go up another $10, but that's still in the ballpark.

ballpark British  

/ ˈbɔːlˌpɑːk /

noun

1. a stadium used for baseball games

2. informal

   1. approximate range

      in the right ballpark

   2. ( as modifier )

      a ballpark figure

3. informal a situation; state of affairs

   it's a whole new ballpark for him

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Etymology

Origin of ballpark

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; ball ¹ + park

Example Sentences

“I wish the ballpark was bigger,” Savage said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

A. “When the war ends” is a key qualifier—and one nobody knows how to ballpark right now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

You could fit them in a minor-league ballpark with room for the hot dog vendors.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

More than 100 people have died across the mountains this season so far, according to the European Avalanche Warning Services – a ballpark figure not seen for eight years.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

People looked strange wearing face masks, like a convention of surgeons had accidentally assembled in front of the ballpark.

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

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