- a variation of bull pen.
bullpen
Britishnoun
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informal a large cell where prisoners are confined together temporarily
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baseball a part of a baseball field where relief pitchers warm up
Explanation
The bullpen is the small area on a baseball field where pitchers warm up, throwing practice pitches to a catcher. The bullpen is often situated in the foul zone along the side of the field. In a professional baseball game, there is always at least one relief pitcher getting ready to replace the starting pitcher. These backup pitchers practice in the bullpen, keeping their throwing arms warmed up and ready. Sometimes the people inside the bullpen are also referred to as "the bullpen." Additionally, people who are confined together in a prison or cell are often said to be in a bullpen.
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.
Dodgers hitters are stymied by the Brewers bullpen, which throws five perfect innings in a 7-4 win that gives Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in the NLCS.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
However the dominant performance of the Brewers’ bargain-basement bullpen would not.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
And the Brewers’ bullpen shut down the Dodgers’ offense for the second straight game, pitching five hitless innings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
The Dodgers’ performance against the Brewers’ bullpen on Monday magnified how much the star-powered lineup hasn’t been clicking with Shohei Ohtani struggling at the plate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Gionfriddo, charging from left field to the edge of the bullpen, reached behind the fence and robbed DiMaggio of his sure home run and a tied game.
From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord
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.
