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

Tyler Mahle pitched six-plus scoreless innings, and the bullpen handled the rest. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

The club also will dip into its farm system, though not at an all-in level, to add useful pieces to Derek Shelton’s big-league bullpen and perhaps the rotation. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Martinez spoke from the visitors’ dugout Sunday morning, long before his bullpen would be thrown into one of the more chaotic games of the season. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 27 July 2026

Arozarena's solo homer, his 12th of the season, went into the Texas bullpen in right-center field. — ABC News, 26 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