umpire
Americannoun
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a person selected to rule on the plays in a game.
- Synonyms:
- arbitrator, arbiter, referee
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one selected to settle disputes about the application of settled rules or usages; a person agreed on by disputing parties to arbitrate their differences.
verb (used with object)
-
to act as umpire in (a game).
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to decide or settle (a controversy, dispute, or the like) as umpire; arbitrate.
verb (used without object)
noun
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an official who rules on the playing of a game, as in cricket or baseball
-
a person who rules on or judges disputes between contesting parties
verb
Usage
What does umpire mean? An umpire is a kind of referee who enforces the rules during certain sports, such as baseball, softball, and cricket.In higher levels of baseball and softball, there are often multiple umpires on the field. They are primarily responsible for determining whether base runners are “safe” or “out.” The most important one is the home plate umpire, who determines whether each pitch is a “ball” or a “strike.”Umpire is also sometimes used to refer to someone who acts as an impartial judge during some kind of conflict, such as two friends having an argument, as in Jane and Mike were losing their tempers with each other at the meeting so I had to step in and act as an umpire until they calmed down. Less commonly, umpire can be used as a verb meaning to perform the duties of an umpire, as in I signed up to umpire my daughter’s softball games. An informal short form of umpire is ump, which can also be used as both a noun and a verb. It’s especially used as an informal way to address an umpire, as in Hey, ump, that was way out of the strike zone!Example: The umpire called him out, but I’m pretty sure he was safe.
Related Words
See judge.
Other Word Forms
- umpireship noun
- unumpired adjective
Etymology
Origin of umpire
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English umpere, variant of noumpere ( a noumpere taken as an oumpere; adder 1, apron ), from Old French nomper, nonper “arbiter,” i.e., “one not equal.” See non-, peer 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dickie Bird: Became a legendary cricket umpire after a playing career at both Yorkshire and Leicestershire.
From BBC
Again umpire Menon suggested he was not sure if the ball had carried so sent the decision for Gaffaney to review.
From BBC
After captain Ben Stokes challenged the decision, the footage reviewed by TV umpire Chris Gaffaney showed a spike but this came before the ball had reached the bat.
From BBC
Replays show a tiny scratch on the technology, though nothing conclusive to suggest the TV umpire would have overturned the on-field decision.
From BBC
When he tried a swipe, the ball looped up to be caught on the leg side, only for the umpire to signal no-ball.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
