fastball

noun

fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed and often appearing to rise slightly as it nears the plate
fastballer
ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯ-lər How to pronounce fastball (audio)
noun

Examples of fastball in a Sentence

He struck him out with a fastball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then Scott had the inning of his Dodgers career in the eighth — sitting down the Braves’ 3-4-5 hitters with a nasty array of sliders and fastballs. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Weis then went to Robert Suarez, who worked Pages to a full count before allowing the single on a 100 mph fastball. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Facing Smith with two down and the bases loaded, Adell grounded a high fastball down the first-base line for a 4-1 lead. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 There’s no wind inside Tropicana Field, so his fastball should perform at its best. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fastball

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fastball was in 1883

Phrases Containing fastball

Rhymes for fastball

See All Rhymes for fastball

Browse Nearby Words

fastback
fastball
fastballer
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Cite this Entry

“Fastball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastball. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fastball

noun
fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed

More from Merriam-Webster on fastball

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fastball

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