noun phrase🎓 English idiom

ballpark figure

a rough estimate

What it means

A rough numerical estimate given when an exact figure isn't yet known or isn't needed. It signals that the number is approximate and could change once more details are confirmed.

Examples

  • Can you give me a ballpark figure for how much the renovation will cost?
  • Without seeing the full data, I can only offer a ballpark figure right now.
  • A ballpark figure of around two thousand attendees seems reasonable for the event.
  • He quoted a ballpark figure of three weeks, but the final timeline may differ.

Where it comes from

An Americanism from the mid-20th century drawn from baseball; something "in the ballpark" was roughly within the expected range, by contrast with a wildly inaccurate guess.

Related idioms

#a rule of thumb#off the top of my head#a long shot#take it with a grain of salt

🎓 Think you know your idioms?

Take the English Idioms Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.