ballpark

American  

[bawl-pahrk] / ˈbɔlˌpɑrk /

Or ball park

noun

1. a tract of land where ball games, especially baseball, are played.

2. a baseball stadium.

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adjective

1. Informal. being an approximation, based on an educated guess.

   Give me a ballpark figure on our total expenses for next year.

idioms

1. in the ballpark, within reasonable, acceptable, or expected limits.

   The price may go up another $10, but that's still in the ballpark.

ballpark British  

/ ˈbɔːlˌpɑːk /

noun

1. a stadium used for baseball games

2. informal

   1. approximate range

      in the right ballpark

   2. ( as modifier )

      a ballpark figure

3. informal a situation; state of affairs

   it's a whole new ballpark for him

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Etymology

Origin of ballpark

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; ball ¹ + park

Example Sentences

“These rules of thumb can certainly give Americans a ballpark estimate for their own wealth-management goals,” said Roberts.

From MarketWatch

A. “When the war ends” is a key qualifier—and one nobody knows how to ballpark right now.

From The Wall Street Journal

You could fit them in a minor-league ballpark with room for the hot dog vendors.

From MarketWatch

Some are impractical, such as forcing teams to push the fences back in their ballparks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The organization made it a priority to keep the name of the ballpark, which has been in place since its opening in 1962.

From Los Angeles Times

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