sacrifice bunt

American  

[sak-ruh-fahys buhnt] / ˈsæk rəˌfaɪs ˈbʌnt /

noun

Baseball.

1. a sacrifice hit in which a bunted ball, hit when there are fewer than two outs, is fielded to put the batter out at first base but allows one or more base runners to safely advance to their next base.

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Etymology

Origin of sacrifice bunt

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

They deployed strategies like the sacrifice bunt and stolen base with remarkable frequency despite lacking real evidence to justify such usage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

They mainly hate it because over time, teams that sacrifice bunt score less than teams that don’t.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Even Tommy Edman, who didn’t have a hit, contributed with a sacrifice bunt that scored a run.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2024

After singles from Will Smith and Gavin Lux, and a sacrifice bunt from Kiké Hernández, key trade deadline acquisition Tommy Edman feathered a single into right to drive in two go-ahead runs.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2024

The following batter made a clever sacrifice bunt, and the man on third brought home a run, while the one on first reached second.

From Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball by Duffield, J. W.