batsman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Sport
Quick answer
What does “batsman” mean?
A cricketer who specializes in batting, the player whose turn it is to face the bowler.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cricketer who specializes in batting, the player whose turn it is to face the bowler.
In cricket, a player who uses a bat to score runs. By extension, the term is used in other bat-and-ball games, but is overwhelmingly associated with cricket. It can also refer historically to a soldier who signals with flags (signalman), though this is archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in British and Commonwealth English. In American English, it is largely unknown except to cricket enthusiasts. The American baseball equivalent is 'batter' or 'hitter'.
Connotations
In the UK/Commonwealth, it connotes cricket, tradition, and technical skill. In the US, it is a loanword with very low recognition, often causing confusion.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK/Commonwealth sports contexts; extremely low frequency in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “batsman” in a Sentence
The batsman + verb (scored, defended, was dismissed)Adjective + batsman (e.g., prolific batsman)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “batsman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tail-ender batted bravely for an hour.
- He is batting at number three today.
American English
- The player batted in five runs.
- She will be batting cleanup.
adverb
British English
- He played batting aggressively.
- (Adverbial use is rare; 'while batting' is more common.)
American English
- He swung batting left-handed.
- (Similarly rare; 'when batting' is preferred.)
adjective
British English
- He showed great batting skill.
- The batting side declared.
American English
- His batting average is .320.
- The batting order is set.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Potential metaphorical use: 'a key batsman in the sales team' (UK only, niche).
Academic
Only in academic papers or discourse specifically about cricket.
Everyday
Common in everyday conversation in cricket-playing nations, especially during the season or when discussing sport.
Technical
The primary and correct technical term in cricket commentary, scoring, and rulebooks.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “batsman”
- Using 'batsman' for a baseball player (use 'batter').
- Pluralizing irregularly as 'batsmans' (correct: 'batsmen').
- Misspelling as 'batman' (the comic character/military officer).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the term is gender-neutral in official cricket terminology (e.g., 'She is a talented batsman'). The term 'batswoman' is sometimes used but is less common in formal contexts.
The correct plural is 'batsmen'.
No, it is incorrect. The correct term in baseball is 'batter' or 'hitter'.
They refer to the same role but in different sports: 'batsman' is used in cricket, 'batter' is standard in baseball and softball. 'Batter' is also an accepted variant in some cricket contexts.
A cricketer who specializes in batting, the player whose turn it is to face the bowler.
Batsman is usually technical/sport in register.
Batsman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbatsmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbætsmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nightwatchman (a lower-order batsman sent in near the end of a day's play)”
- “To bat for the other side (slang, unrelated double meaning)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A man with a BAT in cricket = BATSMAN. Unlike baseball's 'batter', cricket has a 'batsman'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BATSMAN IS A COMBATANT/DEFENDER (defends the wicket, fights the bowling attack).
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'batsman' primarily used?