designated hitter

noun

1

: a baseball player designated at the start of the game to bat in place of the pitcher without causing the pitcher to be removed from the game

2

: representative, substitute

Synonyms of designated hitter

• replacement
• substitute

Examples of designated hitter in a Sentence

you'll have to be my designated hitter in the office while I'm on business trips

Recent Examples on the Web

Cubs designated hitter Michael Conforto homered to center to lead off the third, and Ian Happ hit a two-run single to push the lead to 3-0. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2026

With one out and no one on base, Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone hit a weak dribbler toward the pitcher's mound. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Lee received a break from his duties in right field and was designated hitter after a late flight home from Boston as the Giants concluded a 1-5 road trip. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Episode writer Ava Coleman’s script called for Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber to hit a home run during the game. — Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for designated hitter

• babysitter
• bitter
• critter
• fitter
• fritter
• glitter
• jitter
• knitter
• litter
• quitter
• ritter
• splitter