catcher

American  

[kach-er] / ˈkætʃ ər /

noun

• catchers
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• catchers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of catcher

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at 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

See Examples For:

catcher catchers

And before the season has even started, Murray has already made an impression on the team’s star pass catcher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Peru, the world's largest catcher of anchovy, is facing a devastating blow from warming seas that have gutted production, according to industry officials.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

In a more positive development, Will Smith faced live pitching for the first time since June, and Roberts said that the plan is to activate the catcher during the first week of September.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Dalton Rushing is “pain-free” and close to facing live pitching, according to Roberts, but the catcher is “unlikely” to return to catching this season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Some people don't know it, but the catcher has to do a lot of thinking.

From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson

Among the 24 major league catchers with at least 200 plate appearances entering play Friday, Rushing ranked fifth in OPS.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

Root was aggressive, with plenty of catchers in place for most of the day.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

A look at the major leagues’ best catchers and hitters at using the ABS challenge so far this season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026

Knowing conditions were in their favour and time on the field was short, England crowded the bat with as many as seven close catchers.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

“But, Mr. Leroy, there’re slave catchers over in Michigan. How we gonna stop someone from trying to kidnap us?”

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis