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

Six months ago, Joe Pohlad approved and perhaps even encouraged a fire sale that stripped the roster of Carlos Correa and nearly the entire bullpen. —Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026

For starters, 50-foot foul poles were added at each end of the field and work was done in both bullpens. —Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026

Alex Lange — who attended nearby Lee Summit West High School — Matt Strahm and Nick Mears are new faces in the bullpen. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026

Outside of McLean, Tong and Scott, right-handers Jonathan Pintaro and Dylan Ross are expected to contribute out of the bullpen. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026

Kumar Rocker looks more and more like an arm for the back of the bullpen. —Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026

The Chicago Cubs started the fall with some jabs, signing a handful of relievers to create a deeper bullpen. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026

But a bullpen that was stripped down at last year’s trade deadline remains an area of concern. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026

Schlossnagle said the Sunday spot could go to anyone from a group including Jason Flores, Ruger Riojas, Sam Cozart or Kade Bing while returners Max Grubbs and Thomas Burns and Wake Forest transfer Haiden Leffew will be valuable arms in the bullpen. —Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Jan. 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