umpire

noun um·pire \ ˈəm-ˌpī(-ə)r \

|Updated on: 25 Jun 2018

Examples: umpire in a Sentence

Editor's Note: History of umpire

Definition of umpire

1 : an official in a sport who rules on plays

2 : one having authority to decide finally a controversy or question between parties: such as

a : one appointed to decide between arbitrators who have disagreed

b : an impartial third party chosen to arbitrate disputes arising under the terms of a labor agreement

3 : a military officer who evaluates maneuvers

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See umpire defined for kids

Examples of umpire in a Sentence

usually acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates

Recent Examples of umpire from the Web

An umpire at a KBO game in South Korea took things a little too far.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Umpire punches catcher in back of the head on a strikeout call in South Korea," 15 June 2018
Earlier this week, a video featuring former Mets manager Terry Collins getting into a profane shouting match with an umpire went viral, and for good reason.

— rob tornoe, Philly.com, "MLB trying to scrub viral video with Chase Utley and a profane Terry Collins from the Internet," 15 June 2018
The Razorbacks have everything working—including a fan determined to psyche out umpires and ESPN camera operators.

— eric single, SI.com, "College World Series Preview: Power Ranking the National Title Contenders," 14 June 2018
Just like an umpire isn’t going to get every call right, not all the kids who take this class will become an official.

— c.r. walker, Daily Southtown, "Lockport high school class to address 'worst shortage of officials' for youth sports," 7 June 2018
And at least an umpire or referee makes his or her in-gamecall quickly.

— will leitch, Daily Intelligencer, "The Case Against Instant Replay — All Instant Replay," 5 June 2018
An amateur baseball umpire who had conducted youth clinics for the Red Sox Foundation, Mr. Soolman had a heart attack while walking on Brattle Street in Harvard Square May 13 and died in Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.

— marvin pave, BostonGlobe.com, "Harvey Soolman, who devoted his life to baseball on the field and on the page, dies at 68," 4 June 2018
Babe Ruth started the game, walked the leadoff man and was then ejected after punching an umpire.

— jim reineking, USA TODAY, "Tampa Bay Rays' Sergio Romo gets first career start, makes history against Angels," 20 May 2018
The rule, in short: If a runner is out on a close play, an umpire can determine the runner would have been safe if not for the obstruction.

— nick piecoro, azcentral, "Diamondbacks take series after A.J. Pollock’s dash home," 6 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'umpire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History of umpire

The word umpire was formed by metanalysis, or the changing of the division of words based upon how they sound together. The original word in English was noumpere, which was a borrowing of the French term nompere. The -pere of nompere was the French word for “equal,” a descendant of the Latin word par (“equal”) that is the root of words like peer, pair, and, of course, par. Noumpere became the form used in English for “one without equal” or “peerless,” but frequent references to a noumpere ended up becoming references to an oumpere, which became the modern word umpire. It’s ironic that the word for a person who literally calls balls and strikes is called by a name created by a linguistic foul.

Origin and Etymology of umpire

Middle English oumpere, alteration (from misdivision of a noumpere) of noumpere, from Anglo-French nounpier, nompere, from nounpier, adjective, single, odd, from non- + per equal, from Latin par

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

umpire Synonyms

Synonyms

adjudicator, arbiter, arbitrator, judge, referee;

Related Words

jurist, justice, magistrate;

intermediary, intermediate, mediator, moderator, negotiator;

conciliator, go-between, peacemaker, reconciler, troubleshooter;

decider;

umpire

verb

Definition of umpire

umpired; umpiring

transitive verb

: to supervise or decide as umpire

intransitive verb

: to act as umpire

See umpire defined for English-language learners

Examples of umpire in a Sentence

in our family disputes regarding the use of our home entertainment system are umpired by Dad

Recent Examples of umpire from the Web

His father was a coal miner who often umpired local baseball games.

— matt schudel, Washington Post, "Red Schoendienst, Hall of Fame baseball player and manager, dies at 95," 7 June 2018
Don also umpired for many baseball and softball leagues.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Donald A. Comeau," 27 Apr. 2018
But to me, umpiring is an integral part of the game, obviously.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Hawk Harrelson and A.J. Pierzynski take their act to Sox Park," 5 Apr. 2018
And then the brain trust in New York overturned the call, which led to Gardenhire rushing the umpiring crew, kicking dirt onto the plate (a strong throwback move) and being ejected.

— si.com staff, SI.com, "Nine Innings: Blowing Up Small Sample Sizes, Heroic Homer Feats and Establishing an All-MLB Team," 2 Apr. 2018
No woman has ever umpired in the 140-plus years of major league baseball.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "How umpire at Detroit Tigers game is ready to break gender barrier," 23 Feb. 2018
But something changed in the seven years since the last woman gave minor-league umpiring a shot.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "How umpire at Detroit Tigers game is ready to break gender barrier," 23 Feb. 2018
Harvey umpired from 1962 through 1992, and was a crew chief for 18 of his 31 seasons.

— kansascity, "Final Chapters for Jan. 21, 2018 | The Kansas City Star," 20 Jan. 2018
Who: Boys and girls ages 4-14, and also umpires ages 12 and older.

— sabrina gese, sandiegouniontribune.com, "North County community sports," 8 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of umpire

1609

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

umpire Synonyms

Synonyms

adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, judge, referee, rule (on), settle;

Near Antonyms

equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt;

size up;

mediate, moderate, negotiate;

prosecute, try;

find (for or against);

conclude, resolve;

UMPIRE Defined for English Language Learners

umpire

noun

Definition of umpire for English Language Learners

: a person who controls play and makes sure that players act according to the rules in a sports event (such as a baseball game or a cricket or tennis match)