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

The Detroit Tigers intentionally walked Miguel Vargas, setting up a lefty-lefty matchup for reliever Drew Sommers against Chicago White Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi in the seventh inning Saturday at Comerica Park. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida was back but didn't play after staying away Saturday because of illness. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Royals designated hitter Josh Rojas also added a two-run single off Holmes in the second inning. — Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026

Yan had given up two singles and a walk to load the bases before getting Cleveland designated hitter Chase DeLauter on a 90-mph slider for strike three and the second out of the inning. — Los Angeles Times, 6 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