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

Criswell pitched out of the bullpen and rotation for Boston last year, posting a 4.08 ERA in 99 1/3 innings. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

That night, a national broadcast team had placed its makeshift set beyond the bullpen in right field. —Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2025

Brasier is a good set up guy and Counsell has a dozen solid options for the bullpen at this point. —Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025

The Chicago Cubs acquired Ryan Brasier in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, adding the right-hander to their bullpen after he was cut by the World Series champions last week. —Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025

How bullpen looks Calvin Faucher is positioned to be the closer, but Andrew Nardi likely will compete for the job, and don’t overlook emerging Jesus Tinoco. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2025

After spending his first three big-league seasons in Chicago’s bullpen, Crochet moved to the rotation last year and emerged as a veritable force. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 30 Jan. 2025

After that season, the Twins decided to shift him to bullpen where he’s become, over the past three seasons, one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2025

The Red Sox will likely have competition for Scherzer's services from other MLB teams, most if whom will be expected to at least try him in the starting rotation, so Boston's chances of landing Scherzer as a bullpen piece may be a long shot. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025

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