ballpark estimate
Imprecise numerical guess
A ballpark estimate is a rough approximation, not meant to be precise but to give a general sense of magnitude: Can you give me a ballpark estimate of what repairs will cost?
The metaphor comes from baseball—somewhere in the ballpark means in the right general area.
Often shortened to just ballpark: What's the ballpark on this project?
- guessEstimate without certainty
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
- educated guessReasoned speculation from facts
- best guessLikeliest prediction attempted
- wild guessUninformed speculation attempt
rule of thumb · order of magnitude · give or take · rough · swag · approximation · close enough · spitball · quick · quick and dirty · back-of-the-envelope · napkin math · interpolation · heuristic · budget planning · forecasting · loose · fudge factor
- estimatesguesstimate, approximation, rough calculation, educated guess, ballparking
- guessworkguesswork, educated guess, educated guesses, conjecture, speculation
- mental shortcutsmental shortcut, rule of thumb, hunch, gut feeling, educated guess
- Estimationeducated guess, guesstimate, back of envelope, order of magnitude, eyeballing