third base

noun

1

: the base that must be touched third by a base runner in baseball

2

: the player position for defending the area around third base

3

slang + impolite : amorous touching or caressing especially of the genitals

—usually used in phrases like get to third base or reach third base

One boy told everyone he got to third base with her when she didn't even know what counted as third base, but unless it was French-kissing, he hadn't.

—Meryl Wilsner

compare first base sense 4, home base sense 3, second base sense 3

third baseman noun

Examples of third base in a Sentence

a runner on third base

Recent Examples on the Web

Since getting optioned to Triple A, Volpe has started three games at third base. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Taylor Walls opened the 10th with a sacrifice bunt that advanced automatic runner Jorge Mateo to third base. — Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026

Daniel Schneemann singled home rookie Angel Genao from third base in the 10th inning to send Cleveland to a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, the Guardians' third walk-off victory in the four-game series. — ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026

The top of the second wasn’t much better as the Cubs recorded two of their three outs at third base. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for third base

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

Kids Definition

third base

noun

: the base that must be touched third by a base runner in baseball or the position of the player defending the area around it