left field

noun

1

: the position of the player defending left field

2

: the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from the plate

3

a

: a state or position far from the mainstream (as of prevailing opinion)

they were really out in left field with that idea

b

: a source of the unexpected or illogical

that question came out of left field

left fielder noun

Examples of left field in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Center field, left field and first base are certainly options for him. —Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

This is another really fascinating book that’s just out of left field that science people might like: this is called Anaximander, [about a philosopher] credited as the person who invented Western science in the first place. —Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 5 Dec. 2025

There was no accountability for this situation that came completely out of left field for us. —Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 24 Nov. 2025

Here’s more of what worked, what didn’t, and what came out of left field at the Latin Grammys. —Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for left field

• afield
• airfield
• annealed
• appealed
• brownfield
• coalfield
• concealed
• congealed
• cornfield
• downfield
• goldfield
• hayfield

Kids Definition

left field

noun

1

: the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from home plate

2

: the position of the player defending left field

left fielder noun