ballpoint

British  

/ ˈbɔːlˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. Also called (Brit): Biro.  a pen having a small ball bearing as a writing point

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Explanation

A ballpoint is a type of pen with a tiny metal ball at its very tip. When you write with a ballpoint, the ball rolls, spreading ink onto the paper. The most common kind of writing pen is the ballpoint or ballpoint pen. When ballpoints were first developed around the turn of the 20th century, they gradually replaced fountain pens, which actually had to be dipped in ink. Not only were ballpoints easier and cleaner, they were also less expensive. The word ballpoint, also spelled ball-point, was first recorded in 1946.

Example Sentences

He called her every day and kept a diary, sketching rap lyrics and poems in blue ballpoint pen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

Dahl, who was born in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff, produced the sketches in black ballpoint pen for the book Boy, which was published in 1984.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2025

It has tweezers, whatever backgrounds I’m working with and cutting tools that are usually ballpoint pens that have run out of ink.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2025

Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer showed his frustration by incessantly clicking his ballpoint pen during his postgame media interview.

From Seattle Times • May 5, 2024

He has a clipboard on his lap, a ballpoint pen in one hand.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day