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ballplayer

American  
[bawl-pley-er] / ˈbɔlˌpleɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person who plays ball professionally, especially baseball.

  2. anyone who plays ball.


ballplayer British  
/ ˈbɔːlˌpleɪə /

noun

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

  2. 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

Etymology

Origin of ballplayer

First recorded in 1610–20; ball 1 + player

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

His father, the multitalented comedian and creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” didn’t think his boy had much talent and pressed him to be a ballplayer or a doctor.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 15, 2025

Bob was once so popular a ballplayer name that managers had to be careful not to trip over one Bob or another on their way through the clubhouse.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2025

It could have ended there; Rose wasn’t yet a great ballplayer.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 2, 2024

“The more I see him every day the more I realize how special of a person and a ballplayer he is.”

From Seattle Times May 16, 2024

In fact, it was the same foot fungus that a hundred and ten years later would afflict the famous ballplayer Clyde Livingston.

From "Holes" by Louis Sachar

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