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

While the catching situation is settled for the start of the season, the Sox still have decisions to make with their bullpen. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

The Orioles also added veteran starting pitcher Chris Bassitt, acquired starting pitcher Shane Baz, re-signing starting pitcher Zack Eflin, and added Helsley and Andrew Kittredge to the bullpen. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026

The team could have stuck him and his high-octane stuff in a bullpen that has a few spots up for grabs, but the preference is for Lagrange to continue his development as a starter for now. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026

The righty was willing to before the signings of Ponce and Cease placed him back in the bullpen. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026

Ryan threw five innings and gave up a one run — a home run to Jonathan Aranda — against the Tampa Bay Rays and followed that up by going out to the bullpen to get in some extra work. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026

The Red Sox are still deciding who will round out the Opening Day bullpen, and multiple spots are up for grabs. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026

If Borucki and left-hander Erik Miller are in the mix, the Giants may not need a third lefty in their bullpen. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026

The other pending decisions revolve around one bench spot and what might be one spot in the bullpen. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 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