bobble

American  

[bob-uhl] / ˈbɒb əl /

noun

1. a repeated, jerky movement; bob.

2. a momentary fumbling or juggling of a batted or thrown baseball.

3. an error; mistake.

4. a small ball of fabric usually used decoratively, as in a fringe or other trimming.

   a sweater with a line of bobbles up the sleeves.

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verb (used with object)

bobbled, bobbling

1. to juggle or fumble (a batted or thrown baseball) momentarily, usually resulting in an error.

bobble British  

/ ˈbɒbəl /

noun

1. a short jerky motion, as of a cork floating on disturbed water; bobbing movement

2. a tufted ball, usually for ornament, as on a knitted hat

3. any small dangling ball or bundle

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verb

1. (intr) sport (of a ball) to bounce with a rapid erratic motion due to an uneven playing surface

2. informal to handle (something) ineptly; muff; bungle

   he bobbled the ball and lost the game

Etymology

Origin of bobble

1805–15; bob ¹ + -le; bobble ( def. 4 ) perhaps new formation with bob ²

Example Sentences

In Wednesday’s slalom, Shiffrin laid down a vintage first run in 47.13 seconds that gave her a lead of 0.82 seconds, despite a bobble halfway down the course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

At third base, Hernández tagged up once, then again after seeing Frelick’s bobble, before finally breaking for home plate as the Brewers relayed the ball in.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025

A sports retail giant has come under fire for misspelling the Welsh word for Wales on its bobble hats.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2024

And I’m not going to make any excuses for college presidents who bobble this issue.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2023

One time this caused her to bobble the vial, and she had to snatch it in midair before it hit the second-floor landing and shattered.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• bumble
• bungle
• err
• flub
• fumble
• miscalculate
• mishandle
• misjudge
• mismanage
• muff
• screw up