pitcher

1 of 2

noun (1)

pitch·​er ˈpi-chər How to pronounce pitcher (audio)
1
: a container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or spout and a handle
2
: a modified leaf of a pitcher plant in which the hollowed petiole and base of the blade form an elongated receptacle
pitcherful noun

pitcher

2 of 2

noun (2)

: one that pitches
specifically : the player who pitches in a game of baseball

Examples of pitcher in a Sentence

Noun (1) please bring me the pitcher of lemonade from the table
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Milwaukee operates on a tight budget and has thrived on developing pitchers from within the organization or signing cheaper players. Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Dylan Cease filed for free agency on Sunday, Michael King opted out of his deal shortly after that and Joe Musgrove will be just returning from his Tommy John surgery when pitchers and catchers report in February. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025 Hoffman had finished more games than any pitcher in the majors this season. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025 And while Clayton Kershaw wasn’t called upon on Saturday night, the roster of all-world pitchers that took the hill in the finale included the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Max Scherzer, Tyler Glasnow, Trey Yesavage and Yamamoto. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitcher

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English picher, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin bicarius drinking cup

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pitcher was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pitcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitcher. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

pitcher

1 of 2 noun
pitch·​er ˈpich-ər How to pronounce pitcher (audio)
: a container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or spout and a handle

pitcher

2 of 2 noun
: one that pitches
especially : a baseball player who pitches
Etymology

Noun

Middle English picher "container for pouring liquids," from early French (same meaning), from Latin bicarius "drinking vessel, goblet"

Noun

from pitch "to erect in place, throw a ball" and -er, noun suffix

More from Merriam-Webster on pitcher

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