left field

noun

1
: the position of the player defending left field
2
: the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from the plate
3
a
: a state or position far from the mainstream (as of prevailing opinion)
they were really out in left field with that idea
b
: a source of the unexpected or illogical
that question came out of left field
left fielder noun

Examples of left field in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, New York second baseman Gleyber Torres drilled a line drive ball 383 feet to left field. Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2024 Roth’s reaction certainly seems out of left field, especially if the entire point of the tour was to honor Van Halen’s legacy, which Eddie Van Halen was largely the face of. Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 The Tigers’ lineup appears mostly set for 2025, with young players seemingly locked in at catcher (Dillon Dingler), first base (Spencer Torkelson), second base (Colt Keith), third base (Jace Jung), left field (Riley Greene), center field (Parker Meadows) and DH (Kerry Carpenter). Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 14 Oct. 2024 After Harper drew a walk, Castellanos lined a ball into left field to score Trea Turner. Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for left field 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'left field.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of left field was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near left field

Cite this Entry

“Left field.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/left%20field. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

left field

noun
1
: the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from home plate
2
: the position of the player defending left field
left fielder noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!