ballpark figure
Approximate number given
A ballpark figure is a rough estimate or approximation, not meant to be precise: Give me a ballpark figure on what this will cost.
The expression comes from baseball—a number that's at least in the right ballpark, even if not exact.
Also used as a verb phrase: Can you ballpark it for me?
Imprecise preliminary calculation
- approximationNear but inexact value
- educated guessReasoned speculation from facts
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
- back-of-the-envelopeRoughly calculated, informal
round number · rough calculation · swag · napkin math · loose estimate
Lacking full accuracy
- impreciseLacking exactness or accuracy
- approximateNearly accurate but inexact
- roughUneven in surface
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
fuzzy · loose · general · broad · rounded · unrefined · coarse · tentative
Size or scale
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- scopeExtent or range
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- sizePhysical extent or dimensions
dimension · volume · extent · amount · level · degree · measure · capacity
Preliminary spending calculation
- price quoteStated cost for goods
- bidOffer to purchase
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
Maximum permitted value
- lower boundMinimum possible value
- margin of errorAllowable deviation from truth
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- spreadTo distribute widely
bracket · bandwidth · within range · plus or minus · variance · window · confidence interval
rough estimate
Imprecise preliminary calculation
- approximationNear but inexact value
- educated guessReasoned speculation from facts
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
back-of-the-envelope · round number · rough calculation · swag · napkin math · loose estimate
inexact
Lacking full accuracy
- impreciseLacking exactness or accuracy
- approximateNearly accurate but inexact
- roughUneven in surface
vague · fuzzy · loose · general · broad · rounded · unrefined · coarse · tentative · provisional
magnitude
Size or scale
size · dimension · volume · extent · amount · level · degree · measure · capacity · proportion
budget estimate
Preliminary spending calculation
- price quoteStated cost for goods
- bidOffer to purchase
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
forecast · valuation · opening offer · asking price · target price
upper bound
Maximum permitted value
- lower boundMinimum possible value
- margin of errorAllowable deviation from truth
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
spread · bracket · bandwidth · within range · plus or minus · variance · window · confidence interval
- estimatesestimate, estimation, rough estimate, guesstimate, approximation
- guessesguess, conjecture, supposition, speculation, surmise
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- Imprecisevague, fuzzy, rough, hazy, murky
- office jargonsynergy, circle back, touch base, deep dive, action item
- sports idiomsthrow in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field, step up to the plate