batting

American  

[bat-ing] / ˈbæt ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or manner of using a bat in a game of ball.

2. cotton, wool, or synthetic fibers in batts or sheets, used as filling for quilts or bedcovers.

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batting British  

/ ˈbætɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: batt.  cotton or woollen wadding used in quilts, mattresses, etc

2. the action of a person or team that hits with a bat, esp in cricket or baseball

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Etymology

Origin of batting

First recorded in 1605–15; bat ¹ + -ing ¹

Explanation

Batting is the soft, plush material on the inside of a blanket or quilt. When you make a quilt, you sew the front to the back with a layer of batting in between. Batting is sometimes called wadding in the UK. It's usually made of cotton, and it adds thickness and warmth to a blanket. You might see batting used as imitation snow in a department store window, as well. The word comes from the now-obsolete bat, "felted mass of fur or wool," from the idea of "beaten" or "batted" fabric.

Example Sentences

“We’ve been in a batting slump for probably three decades. Like most Southern towns, we’ve really exported talent, exported business,” Ellis said of Monroe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Stokes returned scores of 12 and nought in England's first-Test win over New Zealand, but was not alone in struggling for runs on a Lord's surface that made batting a challenge.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

"He's good. He's doing some great work. I genuinely think his batting is going to get some decent positives in the next little while. I feel like he's not too far away."

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

England captain Ben Stokes' batting is "not too far away" from a return to form, says head coach Brendon McCullum.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

“I think Aretha does, too. And Robin can practice batting without knocking anything over.”

From "Crenshaw" by Katherine Applegate