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

How about solid relief from the bullpen? —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 22 Feb. 2026

Montero was useful for the Tigers as a spot starter last season and even more useful out of the bullpen in the playoffs. —Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026

While there may be a perpetual wave of concern and angst with regard to the Braves’ starting rotation, the team’s bullpen has quietly formed as a solid, and a potentially shutdown, unit. —Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 19 Feb. 2026

Which Baltimore pitchers will end up in the bullpen? —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026

The bullpen is expected to be a strength of this team. —Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026

There are multiple roles and jobs to be won in the bullpen, which may hinge on how that rotation competition plays out. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

As of Wednesday, every pitcher that has thrown a live bullpen has come through healthy. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026

There are two elite Rule 5 Draft arms in the Boston bullpen. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 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