Baseball. a batter who can bat both right-handed and left-handed and so is able to bat from either side of home plate.
Slang. a bisexual person.
baseball a batsman who can hit either right- or left-handed
slang a bisexual person
First recorded in 1925–30 switch hitter for def. 1, and in 1965–70 switch hitter for def. 2
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Freeman is not a switch hitter since he can’t hit from the right side.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
Rutschman hit 21 left-handed, and the switch hitter then turned around to the right side and hit six more right-handed during a 30-second bonus round.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 10, 2023
García, a left-handed hitter, and Ruiz, a switch hitter, would be more logical options if Martinez wants to have a lefty behind Alex Call or Thomas.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2023
“I mean, what other switch hitter in the game right now is comparable?”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 8, 2022
Veteran switch hitter Carlos Santana is expected to serve as the designated hitter.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2022
The 23-year-old switch-hitter has spent all season with triple-A Oklahoma City, where he has batted .253 with 12 home runs, 71 RBIs and .799 OPS in 94 games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2025
“He’s a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield spots, and he played really well for Baltimore after the move from New York,” Minasian said of Hicks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2024
Tommy Edman, a switch-hitter, batted from the right side against right-hander Luke Weaver.
From Washington Times ● May 25, 2023
The Mariners usually start the left-handed hitting Wong when there is a right-hander and use either the right-handed hitting Caballero or switch-hitter Sam Haggerty at second if there is a lefty starter.
From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2023
He touched 100 with his fastball and had Lindor, a switch-hitter batting lefty, chasing on back-t0-back splitters low and away.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 26, 2023
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.
