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

Roupp fought to stay in the game and record the first complete game of his career, but at 104 pitches, Vitello went to his bullpen to seal the blowout win instead of pushing his starter. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

But players from both dugouts and bullpens already began to spill onto the field. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

For a second straight day, the Braves’ bullpen allowed five runs late. — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 7 July 2026

Barring a trade, Huascar Brazobán projects to be part of the bullpen in 2027, possibly along with Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez, if both recover from their respective Tommy John surgeries. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Ray settled in and kept the Rockies at bay before turning the game over to the bullpen. — ABC News, 5 July 2026

The Mets’ bullpen took it from the sixth, with left-hander Brooks Raley and right-handers Luke Weaver holding the lead in the seventh and eighth innings. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 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