What does batting mean?
Batting has two well-established meanings in English. In sport, it refers to the action or skill of a player positioned to hit the ball, most prominently in baseball and cricket, where a team's fortunes often rest on the quality of its batting; performance is measured through statistics such as the batting average, and players are arranged in a batting order according to their strengths. Outside sport, batting denotes soft, loosely compressed fibrous material — commonly cotton, wool, or polyester — that provides padding, warmth, or loft in quilts, jackets, mattresses, and upholstery. The sporting sense carries connotations of technique, timing, and competitive skill, while the textile sense is neutral and practical. The two senses share a common thread: both derive ultimately from the idea of a bat or padded substance. Whether discussing a star player's form at the crease or choosing filling for a handmade quilt, batting is a versatile word worth knowing precisely.
The action or skill of a player attempting to hit the ball in baseball or cricket.
"The coach praised the rookie's disciplined batting during the final overs."
Often used attributively, as in 'batting average' or 'batting order'.
Soft fibrous material, such as cotton or wool, used as padding or lining in quilts, clothing, and upholstery.
"The quilt was filled with warm cotton batting for extra thickness."
Usually uncountable in this sense.
Rarely pluralized; batting is normally treated as uncountable in both senses, so the plural appears only in specialized technical contexts.
"Different battings give quilts different levels of warmth and drape."
A .300 batting average means failing seven times out of ten — and still being considered one of baseball's greats.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of batting
Batting derives from the verb 'bat', meaning to strike with a bat, which traces back to Middle English and Old English 'batt', a club or stick; the -ing suffix forms the verbal noun describing the action of hitting. The textile sense arose separately but plausibly by association with padded or beaten-out fibrous material, reflecting the same root idea of something struck or stuffed. Cognate forms appear in related Germanic languages, and the word family extends to 'baton', borrowed into English from French, which shares the underlying notion of a stick or club.
How batting is actually used
In sporting contexts, batting is used chiefly in baseball and cricket and carries connotations of skill and technique; statistics like the batting average are central to evaluating players. In craft and sewing contexts, batting is typically an uncountable noun referring to the material itself.
Easily confused with batting
Battering means striking someone or something repeatedly or suffering heavy damage, while batting refers to hitting a ball in sport or to soft padding material.