bullpen
noun
bull·pen
ˈbu̇l-ˌpen 
also ˈbəl-
variants
or less commonly bull pen
plural bullpens also bull pens
1
: a large cell where prisoners are detained until brought into court
Commonly called the "bullpen," the court lockup is behind the courtroom and is used as a holding area for prisoners …—
Bruce A. Scruton
Bruce A. Scruton2
a
: a place on a baseball field where pitchers warm up before they start pitching
In the bullpen, Goose Gossage is warming up.—Tony Scherman
Tony Scherman
b
: the relief pitchers of a baseball team
After five innings Seattle led 14-2 and, with baseball's best bullpen waiting to protect the lead should starter Aaron Sele falter …—Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated3
: an open work area not divided into offices
… an alternative to the traditional combination of private offices for the brass and bullpens for the workers.—Carl Ruff
Carl RuffExamples of bullpen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott would fortify the backend of New York's bullpen.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Since removing Flaherty in the second, Roberts had managed his bullpen ruthlessly.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
The bullpen games were probably the most challenging.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
The Diamondbacks signed Montgomery to be a starter, of course, and a bullpen spot seems a last resort.
—Jack Magruder, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
The Yanks lead 4-0, and will now face the Los Angeles bullpen for the rest of the game.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Those Dodger bullpen games had been successful earlier in the playoffs against the San Diego Padres and then the New York Mets.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
And the addition of Michael Kopech strengthened the bullpen, though the hard-throwing right-hander still has his moments where command is an issue.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 27 Oct. 2024
Bumgarner comes out of the bullpen to pitch five scoreless innings on two days’ rest as the Giants held off the Kansas City Royals 3-2.
2017 — Justin Rose mounts the third-largest final-round comeback in PGA TOUR history to win the WGC-HSBC Champions.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Since removing Flaherty in the second, Roberts had managed his bullpen ruthlessly.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
The bullpen games were probably the most challenging.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
The Diamondbacks signed Montgomery to be a starter, of course, and a bullpen spot seems a last resort.
—Jack Magruder, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
The Yanks lead 4-0, and will now face the Los Angeles bullpen for the rest of the game.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Those Dodger bullpen games had been successful earlier in the playoffs against the San Diego Padres and then the New York Mets.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
And the addition of Michael Kopech strengthened the bullpen, though the hard-throwing right-hander still has his moments where command is an issue.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 27 Oct. 2024
Bumgarner comes out of the bullpen to pitch five scoreless innings on two days’ rest as the Giants held off the Kansas City Royals 3-2.
2017 — Justin Rose mounts the third-largest final-round comeback in PGA TOUR history to win the WGC-HSBC Champions.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Bullpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullpen. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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