ump
Americannoun
Usage
What does ump mean? Ump is an informal short form of umpire—a kind of referee who enforces the rules during certain sports, such as baseball and softball. Ump is especially used as an informal way to address an umpire, as in Hey, ump, that way out of the strike zone!In higher levels of baseball and softball, there are often multiple umpires on the field. They are primarily responsible for determining whether base runners are “safe” or “out.” The most important one is the home plate umpire, who determines whether each pitch is a “ball” or a “strike.”Umpire is also sometimes used to refer to someone who acts as an impartial judge during some kind of conflict, such as two friends having an argument. Ump can be used in the same way, as in Jane and Mike were losing their tempers with each other at the meeting so I had to step in and act as an ump until they calmed down. Less commonly, ump can be used as a verb meaning to perform the duties of an umpire, as in I signed up to ump my daughter’s softball games. Example: The ump called him out, but I’m pretty sure he was safe.
Etymology
Origin of ump
Shortened form
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.
How much baseball culture revolves around the home plate ump?
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Home plate umpire Jordan Baker appealed to third base ump Dan Merzel, who rung up Seager for strike three.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2024
Rich Garcia, a major league umpire from 1975-99 and ump supervisor from 2002-09, faults the ABS system for not being as accurate at matching human calls as the strike zone usually is applied.
From Washington Times • Jul. 10, 2023
The Atlanta Braves thought they’d won a game on a two-out, ninth-inning walk-off walk the other day only to find out the ump had nailed their hitter for a clock violation for strike three.
From Washington Post • Feb. 27, 2023
I breathe in again, though it definitely makes me feel like the hot dog I ate earlier is going to join ump guy’s blob of mucus beside me.
From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone
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.
