variants
or less commonly rootball
plural root balls also rootballs
: the compact mass of roots and soil formed by a plant especially in a container
If there are large circling roots or you have a difficult time straightening the roots, the root ball should be thinned and the soil loosened before planting.—
Carey Brothers
Examples of root ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just realize that the root ball will dry out pretty quickly in the heated air of the house environment, so check often.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Dec. 2025
Choose a pot that’s about 1 to 2 inches larger than the root ball to keep extra soil from staying damp for too long.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025
Divide plants by gently digging up the entire root ball, slicing it in half with a sharp knife, and returning a portion to the ground to be replanted if desired.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2025
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball but twice as wide.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for root ball
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.
Cite this Entry
“Root ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20ball. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share