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force play

American

[fawrs pley] / ˈfɔrs ˌpleɪ /

noun

Baseball.

a defensive play in which the fielder holding the ball can make a putout by stepping on, or otherwise touching, the base that a runner is heading toward, having been forced to advance to that base because of a batter’s base hit.

Etymology

Origin of force play

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

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.

See Examples For:

force play

That meant, instead of a sacrifice fly situation, a force play was on for the defense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025

At shortstop, Tommy Edman saved pitcher Brusdar Graterol by leaping high to catch an ill-advised throw and descending to nick second base for a force play.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2024

In the fourth, Matt Olson was initially called out on a force play at second.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 8, 2023

Heavy rain caused sufficient delays to force play into a fifth day in Dubai.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2023

Throw it here!” yelled Collins, and Doyle, thinking that they were trying for a force play, increased his efforts to reach second.

From Pitching in a Pinch or, Baseball from the Inside by Mathewson, Christy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023