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

Despite allowing the loudest — and longest — home run in camp, Verlander impressed during his live bullpen session, inducing whiffs with both his fastball and breaking balls. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025

Sasaki did admit to being a little nervous throwing his first bullpen session earlier in camp. —Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 19 Feb. 2025

Lackey, a starting pitcher, was added to the bullpen for the NLCS, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon inserted him in the ninth inning when closer Wade Davis was reportedly not available. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

Last season, Bubic returned from Tommy John surgery and came out of the bullpen. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2025

Nick Robert steady in first career start Perhaps lost in the offensive outburst was a steady first start by sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Robert, who was used exclusively out of the bullpen during his freshman season at Miami. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025

Boone said he was scheduled for a bullpen on Saturday. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025

Kelly, one of Boston's young bullpen arms, took to social media after news of the Bregman signing broke, sampling sharing three exclamation-mark emojis. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

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

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