strike zone

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. the area above home plate extending from the batter's knees to the shoulders.

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Etymology

Origin of strike zone

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

With two outs and a runner on, Sasaki threw a splitter on the inside edge of the strike zone to Gunnar Henderson, who homered to right field.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026

Even his fastball hit the strike zone a mere 55%.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

While not a huge server, Nadal used the higher bounce to devastating effect as it allowed his top-spin returns to jump out of his opponent's strike zone.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

The ABS system’s unforgiving nature and a smaller strike zone prevent pitchers from getting calls on pitches just off the plate.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

This was right in her strike zone: an aggrieved victim, a remorseless alleged perpetrator, and no one taking up the fight.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel