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

This week in sports The Dodgers bullpen was supposed to be a strength. —Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Thanks to Hagen Smith and a water-tight bullpen, the No. 2 Hogs didn't have to. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024

The bullpen has been much more consistent so far this season, and Mason Miller is emerging as a lock-down closer. —Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

The Marlins’ bullpen was able to stop the bleeding following Puk’s departure, as Declan Cronin, Burch Smith and Andrew Nardi combined for five innings of one-run relief. —Field Level Media, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024

When pitch counts knocked both pitchers out of the game, the bullpens took over and not much changed — until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024

The Royals bullpen kept things close by allowing one hit and striking out three batters in the final four innings. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024

Ike Buxton Club: Marlins Position: Pitcher Level: High-A Age: 23 Idaho tie: Wood River High (2018 grad), Boise State The right-handed pitcher has bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen thus far in his career. —Michael Lycklama, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

Yet, out of the bullpen, Bradford was an impressive 3-0 with a 2.82 ERA. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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