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fastball

American  
[fast-bawl, fahst-] / ˈfæstˌbɔl, ˈfɑst- /

noun

Baseball.

  1. a pitch thrown at or near a pitcher's maximum velocity.

fastball British  
/ ˈfɑːstˌbɔːl /

noun

  1. baseball a ball pitched at the pitcher's top speed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fastball

First recorded in 1910–15; fast 1 + ball 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He experimented with a variety of change-ups, searching across the seams in the hopes of finding a suitable alternative to his blistering fastball.

From The Wall Street Journal

The LSU commit, who throws fastballs in the 90s, went five innings, giving up six hits while striking out three and walking two.

From Los Angeles Times

Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell threw off the mound for the first time in spring training on Thursday, throwing 15 pitches — all fastballs — sitting between 87 to 89 mph.

From Los Angeles Times

Snell threw 15 pitches — all fastballs — sitting between 87 to 89 mph.

From Los Angeles Times

Kershaw’s average fastball velocity dropped to 89 mph last season, but he led the majors in winning percentage.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.