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

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 With a flailing swing, the Marlins designated hitter sent a two-hopper whizzing past Pepiot — who stabbed for a ball that was just out of his reach — and up the middle for a single. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023 After Orioles designated hitter Adley Rutschman popped out to open the bottom of the first, umpires stopped the game as Rockies left fielder Nolan Jones moved away from the area. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2023 Chicago Cubs designated hitter Christopher Morel was fired up to say the least after hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the crosstown rival White Sox. Jace Evans, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023 Brewers designated hitter Jesse Winker also appeared in the game on a rehab assignment, going 1 for 3 himself with a single. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2023 Boston designated hitter Masataka Yoshida led the fifth inning off with a 78.9 mph double. Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 July 2023 Out on the field, Red Sox designated hitter Justin Turner smacks a grand slam against the Yankees and Mike Song leaps in the air. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 June 2023 Boston designated hitter Justin Turner was facing Yankees reliever Clay Holmes in the ninth inning of New York's win on Saturday when the DH fouled a pitch straight back. David K. Li, NBC News, 12 June 2023 Tigers designated hitter and likely future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera took the field in Houston for an afternoon tilt against the Astros on Wednesday, and pregame, Cabrera was honored with a Texas-sized celebration at Minute Maid Park. Michael Shapiro, Chron, 5 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'designated hitter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of designated hitter was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near designated hitter

Cite this Entry

“Designated hitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designated%20hitter. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on designated hitter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!