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.

---

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

---

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

Rather than sulk, however, he scoured the globe, in 1992 signing three players from Russia and a fast-pitch softball player from New Zealand named Gus Leger.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

Cricket, tennis and softball were all disrupted to varying degrees for a second day in a row.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 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

Bobby rode a horse named Chub, played with a black-and-white calf, engaged in an occasional softball game, and made a boat in the arts-and-crafts class—but he still couldn’t relate to the other children.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2025

In fairness, Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch peppered Patterson with favorable softballs, some of which the attorney bafflingly whiffed.

From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2024

The stool or ottoman comes with four different cushions resembling giant, fruit-toned softballs that can be swapped out.

From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

Matsuoka tossed Ohtani a couple of softballs about the upcoming World Baseball Classic, then asked him to compare the positive aspects of American and Japanese baseball.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2023

Out came the platters of boiled beef, the bowls of gravy and red cabbage, the knodels as big as softballs.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---