ballplayer

[ bawl-pley-er ]

/ ˈbɔlˌpleɪ ər /

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noun

a person who plays ball professionally, especially baseball.

anyone who plays ball.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of ballplayer

First recorded in 1610–20; ball¹ + player

Words nearby ballplayer

ballottement, ballottine, ballpark, ballpark figure, ball-peen hammer, ballplayer, ballpoint, ballpoint pen, ball race, ballroom, ballroom dance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ballplayer in a sentence

Ruth, as he put on the poundage and the paunch, the Yankees put their ballplayers in pinstripe uniforms because it made Ruth look slimmer.
Vin Scully’s best calls, from Don Larsen to Hank Aaron to Kirk Gibson|Cindy Boren|August 3, 2022|Washington Post
He’s willing to do all these things to step outside the box of just not being a star ballplayer.
How Vernon Davis went from Pro Bowl tight end to movie and TV action star|Kareem Copeland|February 27, 2022|Washington Post
For Berry she’s that ballplayer who will bowl over the catcher, do whatever is necessary to score.
The Night Sam Cooke Made ‘Chain Gang’ a Hymn to Freedom|Colin Fleming|October 17, 2021|The Daily Beast
We held this campaign together and it doesn’t make sense to put new ballplayers on the field in the ninth inning.
GOP nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor drops staff before election|Antonio Olivo|September 9, 2021|Washington Post

Prosecutors have indicated they will present the testimony of several ballplayers who they say received oxycodone from Kay, with Skaggs often acting as a middleman.
Angels, under pressure from prosecutors, resist turning over more records in drug probe|Gus Garcia-Roberts|September 8, 2021|Washington Post
Nevertheless, Palmer is one ballplayer occasionally seen in the company of long, heavy novels.
Will the Real Jim Palmer Please Stand Up|Tom Boswell|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Well, we only have one team,” Williams, the Russian ballplayer quipped.
Billy Crystal's Tribute to Robin Williams at the Emmys Was Perfect|Kevin Fallon|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Japanese Ballplayer Gives Best Interview Ever Speaking perfect English is overrated.
Beyoncé, Jimmy Fallon, Will and Jaden Smith, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|June 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Over a squeaking microphone someone is introducing his dear friend who is as generous as he is modest and a g-r-r-eat ballplayer.
The Men on the Dais|Daphne Merkin|January 2, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Wilson looked more like a bouncer at a waterfront bar than a ballplayer.
Baseball's Greatest Comebacks|Kevin Baker|October 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Ed was, in my opinion, the greatest all-around ballplayer the country ever saw.
A Ball Player's Career|Adrian C. Anson
If a ballplayer begins to play and to count his throws, it's all up for the time being.
Pompeii, Its Life and Art|August Mau

British Dictionary definitions for ballplayer

ballplayer

/ (ˈbɔːlˌpleɪə) /

noun

a player, esp in soccer, with outstanding ability to control the ball

US and Canadian a baseball player, esp a professional

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012