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

2

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

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

3

: 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

Examples of bullpen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The details of how the Padres finally put to bed an 8-7 victory with Ty France’s tiebreaking home run and three scoreless innings from the bullpen were almost footnotes to the game’s dubiously historic beginning. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

The bullpen’s 16 blown saves were tied for fourth-worst, and the rotation’s 24 quality starts were tied for sixth-worst, meaning more work for the ’pen. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026

Brayan Bello has been called up from Triple-A and will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday’s series finale against the New York Mets, the Red Sox announced Sunday morning. — Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2026

Wrobleski began the season in the bullpen, waiting to join the rotation as its sixth pitcher after the first turn. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bullpen

• again
• airmen
• amen
• culmen
• flagmen
• gunmen
• lawmen
• oilmen
• playpen
• schoolmen
• tegmen
• ben

Kids Definition

bull pen

noun

1

: a large cell where prisoners are held until brought into court

2

a

: a place on a baseball field where relief pitchers warm up

b

: the relief pitchers of a team