umpire
Americannoun
-
umpires
plural
-
a person selected to rule on the plays in a game.
- Synonyms:
- arbitrator, arbiter, referee
-
one selected to settle disputes about the application of settled rules or usages; a person agreed on by disputing parties to arbitrate their differences.
verb (used with object)
-
umpires,
present (3rd person singular)
-
umpired,
past participle, past
-
umpiring
present participle
-
to act as umpire in (a game).
-
to decide or settle (a controversy, dispute, or the like) as umpire; arbitrate.
verb (used without object)
-
umpires,
present (3rd person singular)
-
umpired,
past participle, past
-
umpiring
present participle
noun
-
an official who rules on the playing of a game, as in cricket or baseball
-
a person who rules on or judges disputes between contesting parties
verb
Usage
What does umpire mean? An umpire is a kind of referee who enforces the rules during certain sports, such as baseball, softball, and cricket. 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, 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 umpire until they calmed down. Less commonly, umpire can be used as a verb meaning to perform the duties of an umpire, as in I signed up to umpire my daughter’s softball games. An informal short form of umpire is ump, which can also be used as both a noun and a verb. It’s especially used as an informal way to address an umpire, as in Hey, ump, that was way out of the strike zone!Example: The umpire called him out, but I’m pretty sure he was safe.
Synonym Usage
See judge.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
umpiresimple
-
umpiressimple
-
have umpiredperfect
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has umpiredperfect
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am umpiringprogressive
-
are umpiringprogressive
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is umpiringprogressive
-
have been umpiringperfect progressive
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has been umpiringperfect progressive
Past
-
umpiredsimple
-
had umpiredperfect
-
was umpiringprogressive
-
were umpiringprogressive
-
had been umpiringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of umpire
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English umpere, variant of noumpere ( a noumpere taken as an oumpere; cf. adder 1, apron), from Old French nomper, nonper “arbiter,” i.e., “one not equal.” See non-, peer 2
Explanation
An umpire is a kind of referee, an official whose job on the baseball or softball field is enforcing the rules of the game. You might hear an umpire yell, "Strike three! You're out!" When a conflict comes up during play, it's the umpire who mediates and ultimately makes an official decision. Umpire is also a verb, meaning to act as an umpire. The word comes from the Old French nonper or "odd number," which refers to a third person helping two others settle their differences.
Vocabulary lists containing umpire
The Smashing Lexicon of Tennis
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April Vocabulary Words
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We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
An umpire review ruled Anthony Volpe’s potential game-tying home run a double due to fan interference.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
He gave plate umpire Roberto Ortiz an astonished look and walked to the dugout shaking his head.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Replays drew the attention of the third umpire, Englishman Ian Gould.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
After speaking with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Russia's Medvedev approached the net to shake hands with Djokovic.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Charlie remarked that in a bigger school with at least nineteen pupils, you’d have two teams for real baseball, and an umpire.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
After a lengthy review, the umpires ruled the hit a double.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Australia coach Darren Lehmann was on the walkie-talkie to 12th man Peter Handscomb, who went on to the field, then the umpires get involved," says Naicker.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The rules make it clear—and the umpires are supposed to tell everyone—that a ball which strikes the American Family Field “roof, roof truss, roof cable” remains in play.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Speaking of tomorrow, the Dodgers, Braves and the umpires will all get some relief for Game 2.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
The kidneys are the umpires of the body.
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
He also umpired charity matches for Queen Elizabeth II, whom he said he met 29 times.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025
Interested in majoring in sports medicine or exercise science, Kennedy is on Santa Margarita’s Varsity Leadership Counsel and has umpired and worked with young players on their mechanics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2025
Pawol’s spring training debut marked the first time since 2007 that a woman umpired a major league spring training game, last done by Ria Cortesio.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 24, 2024
Montague, 74, worked 4,369 games from 1974 to 2009 and umpired in six World Series, including four as crew chief.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 19, 2023
When Gale umpired away from the Natchez grounds his close decisions always favored the other team, rather than his own.
From The Redheaded Outfield by Zane Grey
Both eventually made it big in the big leagues, Jim still umpiring after 27 years and Randy pitching for 16 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
At the All-Star Game, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he believes the implementation of ABS has “made the umpiring even better, because they have to bear down even more.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
For umpiring recreational-league baseball in Bel Air, Md., Howell gets $40 a game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Since then, only a handful of women, including Pam Postema and Ria Cortesio, reached high levels of baseball umpiring minor league games, but none worked the majors.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2025
One is by being punctual and ready dressed to play when wanted, and another is by umpiring when they are disengaged and have not an important match just coming on.
From Lawn Tennis for Ladies by Mrs. Lambert Chambers
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.
