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

After a disappointing 82-80 season last year, ending with a fourth-place finish in the American League Central, the Minnesota Twins enter this season with high expectations, thanks to the development of their young players and a bullpen described by some MLB experts as the best in baseball. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025

Now healthy, Merryweather has a chance to be a big piece of the Cubs bullpen. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025

Two years later the Padres still had enough trade chips to assemble arguably baseball’s best bullpen, but what’s left is a collection of minor league talent that ranks near the bottom-five in the game according to industry pundits. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025

Bart’s a nice, cheap play in DFS when facing a lefty and a bad bullpen. —Gene McCaffrey, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025

The former New York Yankees top prospect could end up being another key bullpen find by the front office. —Doug Padilla, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2025

The big league bullpen was bending, trying not to break and the Mets saw it as an insurance policy of sorts. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2025

He’s been throwing bullpens this spring training but won’t face live hitters until after the Dodgers open the season against the Cubs in Japan, manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025

Marcus Stroman reported to camp later than other pitchers and stated his refusal to pitch out of the bullpen. —Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bullpen

• again
• airmen
• amen
• culmen
• flagmen
• gunmen
• lawmen
• oilmen
• playpen
• schoolmen
• tegmen
• ben

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