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

The Tigers put up padding on the area of the fence down the left field line and behind third base after Gelof’s collision. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Bryce Teodosio drove in two a single off reliever Jose Ferrer, Wade Meckler scored from third on a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Heineman and Jose Siri tied it on a groundout to third base that scored Teodosio. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Weston Wilson drove in Cole Young with a grounder to third base. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

With third base open, Crews and Abrams bolted, and both slid in safely. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 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