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

Nate Furman, Shay Whitcomb and Grant McCray, all promoted to the big leagues from Triple-A Sacramento earlier Monday, started the game at second base, third base and right field, respectively, and hit sixth, seventh and eighth in the order. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Christopher Morel hit a chopper to third base, but Hamilton’s throw was off target. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Raisel Iglesias got pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez to pop out with the potential tying run on third base in the eighth, and then pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 27th save. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Painter threw it inside to Jordan, who bounced it to third base. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 23 Aug. 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