softball

American  

[sawft-bawl, soft-] / ˈsɔftˌbɔl, ˈsɒft- /

noun

• softballs
  plural

1. a form of baseball played on a smaller diamond with a ball that is larger and softer than a baseball.

2. the ball itself.

3. something that can be easily dealt with.

   The confirmation committee threw her a softball on that question.

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softball British  

/ ˈsɒftˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a variation of baseball using a larger softer ball, pitched underhand

2. the ball used

3. cookery the stage in the boiling of a sugar syrup at which it may be rubbed into balls after dipping in cold water

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• softballs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of softball

First recorded in 1925–30; soft + ball ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

softball softballs

There was the time Justin qualified for track nationals in the softball throw — the kids were too young for shot put.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

From “Coffee With Comrades” and socialist softball to karaoke and speed dating, Joshua Chaffin and Maya Davis look at how fast-growing chapters are trying to turn the “DSA-curious” into active members.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

The youngest is 12: Peyton Reiss aka Dockin’ Dudette, who plays travel softball in addition to driving her family’s 36-footer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

She eventually decided to switch to softball because it was the only way to get a college scholarship.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Having passed the dude ranch softball field, Jerry G. was just negotiating the curve around Ray Gusdorf s small spread when he noticed a freshly painted and inscribed wooden cross beside the road.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Why shouldn’t their town square prioritize strolling couples and amateur oil painters and kids tossing softballs over parking meters and hatchbacks?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025

Reporters not in the pool want access to getting their questions answered – even if they are softballs.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2025

Tossed rings will clink and fall between bottles; guns will limply squirt water into the mouths of clowns; mushy softballs will knock over nothing.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 18, 2023

The researchers later returned to the ponds to record the number of egg masses the size of softballs that had been laid in the pools to estimate which choruses females might have preferred.

From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2022

He started to fuss with a bag of softballs.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt