noun
softball
noun
1
A team sport similar to baseball, played with a larger, softer ball.
"She plays softball for her college team."
2
An easy question or issue, posed so as not to challenge someone.
"The interviewer only threw him softballs."
How to Use Softball
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the bat-and-ball sport, or, informally, an easy question meant to avoid controversy.
Common pairings
play softball
throw a softball question
Word Forms
softballs plural
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She plays _____ for her college team.
Etymology
Coined in 1926 from soft + ball, contrasting with the harder ball used in baseball ("hardball").