pinch hitter

noun

: one that pinch-hits

Synonyms of pinch hitter

• replacement
• substitute
• backup

Examples of pinch hitter in a Sentence

the business owners brought in a pinch hitter until a permanent manager could be hired

Recent Examples on the Web

After Bird walked Otto Lopez and hit pinch hitter Griffin Conine on the left foot, Pauley batted for Connor Norby. —Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026

Pierce gave up a single to New Braunfels senior catcher Ryland Miller, who went 3 for 3 on the night after coming in as a pinch hitter, but the freshman slammed the door on the Unicorns with two strikeouts to earn the save. —Eric Moreno, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026

Lefty Brendon Little came on and struck out pinch hitter Andy Ibañez, but both runners advanced on a double steal before Denzel Clarke tied it with an infield single. —CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Closer Ryan Helsley struck out the side in the ninth, getting pinch hitter Trevor Larnach with a runner on second to end it. —ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pinch hitter

• embitter
• emitter
• outfitter
• remitter
• submitter
• transmitter
• babysitter
• bitter
• critter
• fitter
• fritter
• glitter

Kids Definition

pinch hitter

noun

1

: a baseball player sent in to bat for another especially when a hit is needed

2

: a person called upon to do another's work in an emergency

pinch-hit

(ˈ)pinch-ˈhit

verb