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

Caminero was replaced by Mullins at third base and hobbled off the field with an ailing left foot. — Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Hicks had a big hit in Game 4 that put Junior Caminero on third base. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

With Chourio and Yelich having reached on a hit and walk, Contreras hit a chopper to third base, but replay showed Yelich beat the throw from a spinning Caminero at second, setting up a bases loaded situation. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Chourio threw out Hicks from left for the final out of the sixth when third base coach Brady Williams waved the slow-footed catcher to try to score from second on Mesa’s single. — Ronald Blum, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 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