Pronunciation: [sˈɒftbɔːl] (IPA) 
The word "softball" is spelled with three syllables and is pronounced as /ˈsɒft.bɔːl/. The initial syllable, "soft," is pronounced as /sɒft/ with a short "o" sound. The second syllable, "ball," is pronounced as /bɔːl/ with a long "o" sound. Softball is a sport that originated in the United States and is played with a larger and softer ball than in baseball. The game is generally played by women, although there are also men's leagues.
Softball is a team sport that involves two teams of nine players each, played on a field similar to that of baseball. The objective of the game is to score more runs than the opposing team by hitting a ball with a wooden or metal bat and running around four bases in order, which form a diamond shape. Softball is a variant of baseball, but with several modifications that make it distinct. The most notable difference is the ball used in the game, which is larger, softer, and pitched underhand by the pitcher.
The origins of softball can be traced back to the late 19th century in the United States, having evolved from indoor baseball. The game gained popularity due to its accessibility and less intensive nature compared to baseball, making it popular among a wider range of age groups and skill levels. Softball can be played in various formats, including slow-pitch and fast-pitch, with different rules and pitching techniques.
The sport requires a combination of physical skills such as hand-eye coordination, throwing, catching, and hitting abilities, as well as strategic thinking and teamwork. Softball is often played in organized leagues, schools, and recreational settings, with numerous international competitions and tournaments held globally. It is recognized as an Olympic sport and has a dedicated international governing body, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Overall, softball provides an engaging and inclusive team sport experience that emphasizes both skill and sportsmanship.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "softball" is composed of two terms: "soft" and "ball".
The term "ball" traces back to Old English "beall", meaning "a round object". It is derived from Proto-Germanic "*balluz" and is related to other Germanic languages such as Old High German "bal" and Old Norse "bǫllr".
The adjective "soft" comes from Old English "softe", which is derived from Proto-Germanic "*samftijaz". This Germanic root is also related to the Old High German "samft" and Old Norse "sǫmtr". The word "soft" refers to something that is not hard, yielding to pressure, or providing a gentle touch.
The combination of these two terms was used to describe a variation of baseball that involved using a larger, softer ball.
