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perfect game

American  

noun

  1. a baseball game in which the same player pitches throughout the full game without allowing any player of the opposing team to reach first base by a base hit, base on balls, error, or any other means.

  2. a game in bowling of 12 consecutive strikes.


perfect game British  

noun

  1. baseball a game in which no batter on the opposing team reaches first base

  2. tenpin bowling a game in which a bowler scores twelve consecutive strikes

"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 perfect game

First recorded in 1945–50

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:

Last month, he carried a perfect game into the eighth inning and no-hitter into the ninth against the Chicago White Sox.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 12, 2026

Mr. Ryan threw his last no-hitter when he was 44, 15 years older than Mr. Koufax was when he threw his fourth and final one, a perfect game at Dodger Stadium in 1965.

From The Wall Street Journal May 15, 2026

Rojas retired the first 18 Roosevelt batters until giving up a leadoff single in the seventh to break up his perfect game.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 17, 2026

After a beloved pitcher named Damon Rutherford throws a perfect game, Henry has the most glorious night of his life.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 17, 2026

It takes Ronan four turns to hit two pins, and he jumps around like he got a perfect game.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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