home plate

noun

: a 5-sided rubber slab at one corner of a baseball diamond at which a batter stands when batting and which must be touched by a base runner in order to score

Examples of home plate in a Sentence

The runner was tagged out at home plate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Major League Baseball this year is debuting its Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, in which batters, pitchers or catchers can instantly appeal a ball or strike call at home plate. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026

It was taken down Thursday, March 19, after The Bee inquired about the banner, which hung on a fence behind home plate. —Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Cruz initially stepped toward home plate before helplessly retreating, allowing a catchable ball to soar over his head. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

Shortstop Rachel Swenson drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, stole second and third base, and crossed home plate after a Country Day miscue to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage. —Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for home plate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

home plate

noun

: the base where a baseball batter stands and which a base runner must touch in order to score