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
The Rockies, who snapped a five-game losing streak and won for just the second time in their last 13 games, won via timely hitting and stellar work by the bullpen.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025
On the final day of the 2008 regular season, a 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw jogged in from the bullpen at then-AT&T Park to pitch the bottom of the sixth.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Sasaki will make another appearance out of the bullpen on Sunday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Their biggest problem has been a disastrous bullpen.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
That means certain starters may be coming out of the bullpen in October.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
After starting your whole career, the A’s moved you to the bullpen in 2024.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
He was replaced after 3 ⅔ innings as the Royals went to their bullpen.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025
On the final day of the 2008 regular season, a 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw jogged in from the bullpen at then-AT&T Park to pitch the bottom of the sixth.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Sasaki will make another appearance out of the bullpen on Sunday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Their biggest problem has been a disastrous bullpen.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
That means certain starters may be coming out of the bullpen in October.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
After starting your whole career, the A’s moved you to the bullpen in 2024.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
He was replaced after 3 ⅔ innings as the Royals went to their bullpen.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bullpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullpen. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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