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

The Jays’ bullpen allowed only two runs in five innings in Game 1, but is hardly intimidating. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

The New York Yankees have to make adjustments to their roster this offseason after losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, and the bullpen may be the perfect place to start. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

That has left little for the Dodgers’ troublesome bullpen to do – only 27⅔ innings in 10 games. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025

In the Blue Jays’ 11 playoff games thus far, Varland has been called upon 10 times, the most used reliever out of the Jays’ bullpen. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025

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