center field

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
: the position of the player for defending center field
2
: the part of the baseball outfield between right and left field
center fielder noun

center fielder

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the baseball or softball player stationed in center field

Examples of center field in a Sentence

Noun (1) a fly ball to center field She used to be a shortstop but now she plays center field.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Kyle Tucker scored on an Andy Pages RBI single before superstar Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run 428 feet into the right-center field bleachers. — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead in the second inning after Andy Pages batted in right fielder Kyle Tucker and superstar Shohei Ohtani ended his nearly two-month home-run drought with a three-run homer to right-center field. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Tucker was jammed by an Aaron Ashby pitch, flying out to short center field for the second out. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Catcher Patrick Bailey hit a weak dribbler for an infield single to lead off the inning, and center fielder Petey Halpin deposited Jax’s pitch 385 feet over the right-center field wall for a two-run home run to give the Guardians a 3-2 lead. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for center field

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of center field was in 1859

Rhymes for center field

See All Rhymes for center field

Browse Nearby Words

centerer
center field
center fielder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Center field.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/center%20field. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

center field

noun
1
: the part of the baseball outfield between right field and left field
2
: the position of the player defending center field
center fielder noun
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