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

So is shortstop Jeremy Peña, whose presence pushed Correa to third base last August upon his return to Houston. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The Bombers then acquired A-Rod from the Rangers to take over at third base. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026

Muñoz stranded a runner at third base in the eighth, then allowed Zack Gelof’s leading single in the ninth. — ABC News, 13 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