southpaw

noun

south·​paw ˈsau̇th-ˌpȯ How to pronounce southpaw (audio)
: left-hander
especially : a left-handed baseball pitcher
southpaw adjective

Did you know?

Southpaw is of obscure origin. A popular theory holds that it comes from the onetime position of ballparks in relation to the sun. Supposedly, late 19th-century ballparks were laid out so that the pitcher looked in a westerly direction when facing the batter. The throwing arm of a left-handed pitcher would then be to the south-hence the name southpaw. This theory of its origin is undermined, however, by the fact that the original use of southpaw does not involve baseball at all. Rather, the term was used as early as 1848 to describe, simply, the left hand or a punch or blow given with the left hand. Today, we often use southpaw as a good-natured term for a left-handed person, but the word is sometimes viewed as stigmatizing by left-handed people.

Examples of southpaw in a Sentence

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.
The Sox southpaw’s night began with a first-pitch out, Ketel Marte flying out to left. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025 But nobody has been more important to the team's success than ace southpaw Garrett Crochet, who has performed like a Cy Young Award contender this season. Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 Against southpaws of all stripes, no team has a lower batting average than the Giants’ .212 mark. Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025 Maybe the Mets piled up low-scoring wins against southpaws early in the season, when their pitching was leading the league in ERA; New York has been 5-5, 10-10 and 13-13 against lefties this year. Tim Britton, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for southpaw

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of southpaw was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Southpaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southpaw. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

southpaw

noun
south·​paw ˈsau̇th-ˌpȯ How to pronounce southpaw (audio)
: a left-handed person
especially : a left-handed baseball pitcher
southpaw adjective

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