Word
Definitions
01the sport
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Sports
n. a game like baseball played on a smaller field with a larger ball.
n. a team sport similar to baseball, typically played on a smaller diamond with a larger, softer ball and underhand pitching.
“She joined the local softball team to meet new people in the neighborhood.”
“The university's softball program has gained significant popularity since the installation of the new floodlit diamond last spring.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the sport itself.
02the ball
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. the large, relatively soft ball used in the game of softball.
n. the specific ball used in the sport, which is larger and less dense than a standard baseball.
“He threw the softball across the park to his friend.”
“The coach inspected the softballs for damage before the start of the championship game.”
Usage
Countable when referring to the physical object.
03an easy question
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · American English
n. a question that is very easy to answer, often given to someone to make them look good.
n. a question posed in an interview or debate that is intentionally easy to answer or designed to avoid controversy.
“The reporter asked the politician a few softballs before moving to the difficult topics.”
“Critics accused the moderator of tossing the candidate softballs rather than pressing him on his controversial economic record.”
Teaching tip
This sense is common in political journalism and media interviews to describe a lack of rigour.
Synonyms
Etymology
1926: soft + ball. Compare hardball.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/softball
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR