ballpark

American  

[bawl-pahrk] / ˈbɔlˌpɑrk /

Or ball park

noun

• ballparks
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ballparks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ballpark

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

Explanation

A ballpark is the area where baseball is played. When you go to the ballpark, you can sit in the stands, eat a hot dog, and cheer for your favorite team. Ballpark is an American word from the late 1800s, originally a shortened form of baseball park. The ballpark is familiar to baseball fans, their equivalent of a football stadium or a tennis court. Colloquially, you can be "in the ballpark" when you're close or within a certain range: "I'm just guessing how much that car costs, but I bet I'm in the ballpark."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ballpark ballparks

James Butts, the mayor of Inglewood, has said he would frown upon a ballpark there.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Now, he was back in the ballpark he’d called home for six years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

It wasn’t at a ballpark, but rather inside a classroom on the campus of the Wharton School.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Instead, to make that short hop to the ballpark, I am about to board a very nice bus that costs $85.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

He told about thumbing a ride to Bluefield, and, when he got there, going up to a gas station attendant and asking which way to the ballpark.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

Now the ‘Tarps Off’ movement is taking over ballparks from St. Petersburg to Seattle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Or the idea of ballparks as sacred spaces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

Although there has been an uptick in recent years, attendance began declining at ballparks around the country in the late 2000s.

From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2025

The Times’ Bill Shaikin has pointed out that geographical realignment would be tied to schedule reform that could help kindle rivalries and encourage fans to visit opposing ballparks that are within driving distance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2025

Outside the ballparks, America was in the midst of a massive and uncertain shift.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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