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
Pittsburgh and the 28-year-old switch hitter finalized the largest deal in franchise history on Wednesday, a $106.75 million, eight-year contract.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 26, 2023
Sam Haggerty, a switch hitter with speed, became a fan favorite because of his ability to do a little bit of everything.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2023
Millas, 25 and a switch hitter, is a strong defender who could nudge his way into the mix at catcher.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 15, 2023
“I mean, what other switch hitter in the game right now is comparable?”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 8, 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 opted to play college ball at Oregon, where the switch-hitter batted a combined .226 with a .650 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 11 homers and 72 RBIs in 2018 and 2019.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
De la Cruz, the 21-year-old switch-hitter rated the top prospect in the Reds’ organization and third in baseball, was 1 for 3 with two walks in his debut Tuesday night.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
Tommy Edman, a switch-hitter, batted from the right side against right-hander Luke Weaver.
From Washington Times ● May 25, 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.
