ballpark
pronunciation
How to pronounce ballpark in British English:
UK [ˈbɔ:lpɑ:k]
How to pronounce ballpark in American English:
US [ˈbɔlpɑrk]
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- Noun:
- a facility in which ball games are played (especially baseball games)
- near to the scope or range of something
Word Origin
- ballpark (n.)
- "baseball stadium," 1899, from (base)ball + park (n.). Figurative sense of "acceptable range of approximation" first recorded 1954, originally in the jargon of atomic weapons scientists, perhaps originally referring to area within which a missile was expected to return to earth; the reference is to broad but reasonably predictable dimensions. The result, according to the author's estimate, is a stockpile equivalent to one billion tons of TNT. Assuming this estimate is "in the ball park," clearly there is valid reason for urging candor on the part of our government. [Ralph E. Lapp, "Atomic Candor," in "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists," October 1954]
Example
- 1. Can you give me a ballpark figure ?
- 2. You can keep going to the ballpark .
- 3. My husband says to scoot you to the ballpark .
- 4. Please give a ballpark estimate of future unit sales .
- 5. I would take this as a ballpark estimate for most of the north atlantic region .