foul ball

noun

: a baseball batted into foul territory

Examples of foul ball in a Sentence

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.
Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz left in the fourth inning after taking a foul ball off his mask. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 That foul ball, no foul ball in the fourth inning changes stuff, too. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026 Wait, why doesn’t MLB use better tech to determine foul ball calls? — Chris Branch, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Reliever Jose Cuas went into a 12-pitch battle with Lewis, featuring five straight foul balls on a full count. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul ball

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foul ball was in 1855

Rhymes for foul ball

See All Rhymes for foul ball

Browse Nearby Words

foulard
foul ball
foul berth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foul ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foul%20ball. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

foul ball

noun
: a baseball batted into foul territory

More from Merriam-Webster on foul ball

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foul ball

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