bullpen

noun

bull·​pen ˈbu̇l-ˌpen 

 also  ˈbəl-

variants or less commonly bull pen

plural bullpens also bull pens

1

: a large cell where prisoners are detained until brought into court

Commonly called the "bullpen," the court lockup is behind the courtroom and is used as a holding area for prisoners …

—Bruce A. Scruton

2

a

: a place on a baseball field where pitchers warm up before they start pitching

In the bullpen, Goose Gossage is warming up.

—Tony Scherman

b

: the relief pitchers of a baseball team

After five innings Seattle led 14-2 and, with baseball's best bullpen waiting to protect the lead should starter Aaron Sele falter …

—Sports Illustrated

3

: an open work area not divided into offices

… an alternative to the traditional combination of private offices for the brass and bullpens for the workers.

—Carl Ruff

Examples of bullpen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Chicago Cubs need a closer to finalize their bullpen for 2025. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

In September, the Yankees removed Stroman from their rotation and began preparing him for a possible bullpen role for when the playoffs started. —Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Milwaukee Brewers The 2024 NL Central champions will have a new look at the back of their bullpen after sending closer Devin Williams to the Yankees on Dec. 13. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025

Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla and bullpen coach Ben Fritz had been influential, as had the team’s new biomechanics lab, on whipping his slider into shape. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025

Bubic returned from Tommy John surgery last season and thrived in a bullpen role. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 11 Jan. 2025

Advertisement Deal: Blake Treinen The key man in the postseason bullpen, Treinen signed a two-year, $22-million deal on Dec. 10. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Bringing García back makes sense for the Blue Jays, who need to rebuild a depleted bullpen, but his addition doesn’t move the needle for a restless fan base. —Kaitlyn McGrath, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024

But in a Monday Zoom conference with Boston media, Red Sox baseball operations chief Craig Breslow said that adding a right-handed power bat to the lineup remains one of his two top priorities for the remainder of the offseason, the other being further bolstering the bullpen. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bull pen

noun

1

: a large cell where prisoners are held until brought into court

2

a

: a place on a baseball field where relief pitchers warm up

b

: the relief pitchers of a team