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
: approximately correct : roughly estimated
a ballpark price
a ballpark figure
ballparked; ballparking; ballparks
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
Michael PhillipsWhen I work with clients I remind them that we are just ballparking the numbers.—Bill Conerly
Bill ConerlyHe 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
Lee ChildSynonyms
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 WebJeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
Just about every stadium has some form of a DJ presence, but few ballparks make their DJs a prominent personality.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024
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
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
See all Example Sentences for ballpark 
Noun
Tucker’s fly ball to left would not have gone out in any other park, and Alvarez’s homer to right would have been out in eight other ballparks.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
Just about every stadium has some form of a DJ presence, but few ballparks make their DJs a prominent personality.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 18 May 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
See all Example Sentences for ballpark
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ballpark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ballpark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballpark. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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