softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl 

1

: a sport similar to baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand

also : the ball used in this game

2

: a question requiring only an easy or simple response

softballer

ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯ-lər 

noun

Examples of softball in a Sentence

Do you want to play softball?

All the questions in the interview were softballs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kendall Kotzmacher is a college softball player who lost her high school state championship game to a team that started a biological male at pitcher. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

The Luderer twins, Keira and Kelsey, from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame committed to Florida State for softball. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

On the morning after, Schumer shamelessly gloated over a Daily News reporter’s softball question. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026

Now the church itself hosted dances and houseboat parties and sponsored a youth softball team of which Nell Fisher was the manager. — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for softball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

softball

noun

soft·​ball ˈsȯf(t)-ˌbȯl 

: baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand

also : the ball used in this game