on-base percentage

noun

on-base per·​cent·​age ˈȯn-ˈbās-pər-ˈsen-tij How to pronounce on-base percentage (audio)
baseball
: a statistic that is expressed as a 3-digit decimal and that indicates the frequency with which a batter reaches base by a hit, a walk, or being hit by a pitch

Note: A batter with an on-base percentage of .350 has reached base 3.5 times for every 10 at bats.

Through Sunday he led the league in on-base percentage (.479) and hits (40) and was second in runs scored (21) and ninth in slugging percentage (.515).Ivan Maisel
… he understood that on-base percentage was a far better tool to evaluate a hitter than batting average …Tom Verducci

Examples of on-base percentage 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.
No American League lineup awoke with a higher batting average, on-base percentage or weighted runs created plus in May than the Houston Astros. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 30 May 2025 Starter Austin Wells has a .268 on-base percentage and backup J.C. Escarra is hitting .175/.306/.325. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025 With a career on-base percentage of .295, there was no statistical reason for Alcides Escobar to bat leadoff. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2025 His on-base percentage includes walks and being hit by pitches. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for on-base percentage

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of on-base percentage was in 1949

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Cite this Entry

“On-base percentage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on-base%20percentage. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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