catcher

American  

[kach-er] / ˈkætʃ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that catches.

2. Baseball. the player stationed behind home plate, whose chief duty is to catch pitches not hit by the batter.

3. a member of an aerialist team, as in a circus, who hangs head down from a trapeze and catches another member who has completed a jump or somersault through the air.

4. Metalworking. a person who feeds metal rods through a looping mill.

5.  catcher resonator.  Electronics. Klystron

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catcher British  

/ ˈkætʃə /

noun

1. a person or thing that catches, esp in a game or sport

2. baseball a fielder who stands behind home plate and catches pitched balls not hit by the batter

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Etymology

Origin of catcher

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; catch, -er ¹

Explanation

In baseball or softball, the catcher is the player who crouches behind home plate and catches the pitches that aren't hit by the batter. The catcher plays an important role in the game of baseball, being the person who uses hand signals to request specific pitches and heads up the team's defense. Because of the catcher's position (behind a swinging bat, facing a fast-moving baseball), he or she wears protective gear, including a mask and chest guard. Catchers tend to have more injuries and shorter careers than other players — crouching tends to be very hard on their knees.

Example Sentences

But is there a better catcher than him in MLB?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor went from 6-feet in 2025 to 5-foot-9 in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Suzuki spent 16 seasons as a major league catcher, retiring in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

“I like where we’re at,” said catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who last season batted .213 with 19 home runs and will be backed up by Travis D’Arnaud for the second year in a row.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

At first the water had a rub­bery taste, but quickly the rain rinsed the catcher and the water tasted fine.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel