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

The difficulty of facing Mr. Ryan led Mr. Carew—who seven times recorded five hits in a single game—to change his batting stance, allowing him to eventually hit over .300 against Mr. Ryan.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

His career numbers in the playoffs include a .272 batting average with a .486 slugging percentage and an .826 on-base plus slugging percentage.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

That’s not a perfect batting average, but it’s not bad given everything that has gone on.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

"The batting and bowling standard is really, really high," Martyn said.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

As our train chugged along through Indiana and across Ohio, the sunshine smiling down upon us, I couldn’t stop the butterflies from batting around in my stomach.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan