ballpark

1 of 3

noun

ball·​park ˈbȯl-ˌpärk 

1

: a park or stadium in which ball games (such as baseball) are played

2

: a range (as of prices or views) within which comparison or compromise is possible

ballpark

2 of 3

adjective

: approximately correct : roughly estimated

a ballpark price

a ballpark figure

ballpark

3 of 3

verb

ballparked; ballparking; ballparks

transitive verb

informal

: to estimate (something) roughly or casually : to give a ballpark estimate of (something, such as a number or price)

The track doesn't release attendance numbers, but media members ballparked it at 42,500 in the facility, which seats more than 50,000.

—Michael Phillips

When I work with clients I remind them that we are just ballparking the numbers.

—Bill Conerly

He looked at the ceiling. He looked at the walls. He turned this way and that, craning his neck, like a contractor about to ballpark an estimate.

—Lee Child

Phrases

in the ballpark

: approximately correct

my first guess wasn't even in the ballpark

Synonyms

Adjective

• approximate
• approximative
• imprecise
• inaccurate
• inexact
• loose
• squishy

Examples of ballpark in a Sentence

Noun

hit a home run out of the ballpark

Adjective

We don't know exactly how many people live in this city, but a ballpark figure would be about two million.

I suspect that the ballpark costs we were quoted for the kitchen renovation will turn out to be too low.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

State of play: Tuesday's 6-1 vote came hours after Rays leaders sent a letter to commissioners saying their delay in approving bonds to finance the stadium wrecked the team's plans to open the ballpark for the 2028 season. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

There are beer stands, dessert carts and liquor bars throughout the ballpark. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 12 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Property owners can get a ballpark sense of their tax liability related to a bond or override by reading their school district's voter information. —Renata Cló, The Arizona Republic, 16 Oct. 2022

Then enjoy a ballpark-style hot dog or cheeseburger lunch in right-center field on Bayview Terrace for $20 adults and $15 for children. —Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2022

Verb

These systems come in different shapes, sizes and configurations, but May ballparks the average cost of one suited to a single-family home or an ADU like Ferrari’s at $8,000 to $10,000. —Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024

That dividing line is tough to pinpoint in real time, but the Fed uses models based on past data to ballpark it. —Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from the phrase in the ballpark

First Known Use

Noun

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1960, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ballpark

• in the ballpark

Kids Definition

ballpark

1 of 2 noun

ball·​park

ˈbȯl-ˌpärk

: a park in which ball games are played

ballpark

2 of 2 adjective

: approximately correct

a ballpark figure