passed ball

American  

[past bawl] / ˈpæst ˌbɔl /

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitched ball that the catcher can reasonably be expected to catch but misses, allowing one or more base runners to advance one or more bases.

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Etymology

Origin of passed ball

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does passed-ball compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• passed ball vs. wild pitch

Example Sentences

Edison 9, Newport Harbor 8: The Chargers won it in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2025

Matt Chapman walked on a full-count fastball that caromed off catcher Smith’s glove for a passed ball that allowed Wade to score for a 1-0 Giants lead.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

Richland would add a fourth run in the bottom of the fourth when Carter Upmeyer scored on a passed ball.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2024

He advanced to second on a passed ball, hustled to third on J.P.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2024

At that he would not have scored if J. Stahl had not contributed a passed ball, Heidrick, Friel, and Sugden, the next three batters, expiring on weak infield taps.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.