left field

noun

1
: the position of the player defending left field
2
: the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from the plate
3
a
: a state or position far from the mainstream (as of prevailing opinion)
they were really out in left field with that idea
b
: a source of the unexpected or illogical
that question came out of left field
left fielder noun

Examples of left field in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rodríguez can play all over the diamond, his primary non-catcher positions being second base and left field, while Haase has played 57 games in the outfield. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 Max Muncy struck out, and Andy Pages lined out to left field to end the inning. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 Anthony has split time between DH (13 games) and left field (15 games) with one game in right. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 5 May 2026 Rookie Chase DeLauter hit his sixth home run — and first since April 3 — going the opposite way to left field to tie it 1-all in the fifth and extend his hitting streak to eight games. ABC News, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for left field

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of left field was in 1857

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Left field.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/left%20field. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

left field

noun
1
: the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from home plate
2
: the position of the player defending left field
left fielder noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster