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softball game

softball game

16 2.0
A team game like baseball played on a smaller field with a bigger, softer ball
  • noun
  • /ˈsɔftˌbɔl ɡeɪm/
translation icon : partido de softbol
  • During the summer, our neighborhood organizes a softball game every Saturday afternoon.

I'm emceeing this softball game that Kirsten's pitching next week.

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Examples

  • We are in the 9th inning of a friendly softball game between the local cops.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Wow, the other day I went to their softball game.

    Academic text (2017)
  • "With an arm like yours," he said, "You should play in the softball game this afternoon."

  • I do love a good softball game and then basketball and then play golf.

  • The day was hot, and at the afternoon softball game, the mood was ugly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The biggest event is the softball game with the fire and police departments.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • She had just come back from a softball game...

  • I've got a charity softball game with Dade County Sheriffs in the morning.

  • Indeed, they repeatedly stated that most of their conflicts occur when officiating softball games, especially adult softball.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The greater Illinois chapter of the Right to Life foundation will be holding its bi-annual softball game against the Cook County Pro-Choice league next Sunday at two.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

softball
vssoftball game
79 1.1

A game like baseball played on a smaller field with a larger ball

is the same phrase but used with an extra noun to make meaning explicit

How Fast

baseball game
62 1.0
softball game
16 2.0

Surface Forms

softball game singular

Morphology

softball + game

The phrase is fully compositional: 'softball' names the sport and 'game' denotes a match, so 'softball game' straightforwardly means a game of softball. This noun–noun (attributive) combination follows a common and cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Softball game gets its name from using a bigger, softer ball than in baseball, so the game could be played more safely on a smaller field. That's why softball game means 'a game similar to baseball played with a larger, softer ball'.