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

While bringing Ohtani out of the bullpen is tempting, especially for those who remember his closeout performance at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, there's a better way to handle it, because of the rules Major League Baseball created to help cater to Ohtani's unique two-way abilities. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

In the beginning, when Rhys was introduced in the bullpen at the precinct there at Fox Studios, the writing is just so good. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025

Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto volunteered to pitch – on one day of rest after pitching a complete game – and was warming up in the bullpen during the 18th inning. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025

On both occasions Roberts went to the bullpen. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Ohtani would double the Dodgers’ lead in the third inning, turning on a Scherzer fastball and sending it 389 feet into the Blue Jays’ bullpen. —Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025

Eric Lauer has the ability to pitch multiple innings for John Schneider, with Brendon Little sitting in reserve in the bullpen. —Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025

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