What does “ballpark” mean?

ballpark


Oh, this is a good one!

So literally, a "ballpark" is the big outdoor place where people go to watch baseball — it has a field, seats, and usually lots of hot dogs and cheering.

But the really common way people use it is to mean "roughly" or "approximately." Like, when you don't know the exact number but you can give a close guess. So you might hear: "I don't know the exact price, but ballpark? Maybe around 500 dollars." Or a friend asks, "How long will it take?" and you say, "Ballpark, about two hours."

You'll also hear "ballpark figure" a lot — that just means a rough estimate. Like, "Just give me a ballpark figure, it doesn't have to be perfect."

It basically means a rough, close-enough guess — not exact, but in the right range!

Related words

The dictionary you'll enjoy reading.

What is Hey Dictionary?

Hey Dictionary explains words, slang, and idioms the way a native friend would — casual, with real examples — instead of a stiff, formal definition. Type a word and read it like a text from a friend.

Benefits of using Hey

  • deeper & more nuanced understanding of the word
  • greatly increase comprehensible input
  • learn natural spoken language
  • make language learning more fun

Who is Hey for?

  • Casual language learners (travel, making friends, cultural exchange)
  • People who prioritize verbal over written expression
  • People tired of ordinary, boring dictionaries

How to use Hey (effectively)?

  1. 1.Enter a word or short phrase you want to learn
  2. 2.Read the explanation in the target language
  3. 3.Highlight words to check their pronunciation

FAQ

Yes. The main lookup feature is free and needs no login.