center field: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (in general English); High (in baseball/sports contexts).Standard, formal, technical.
Quick answer
What does “center field” mean?
The central area of the outfield in baseball or softball, directly beyond second base.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The central area of the outfield in baseball or softball, directly beyond second base.
A position of central importance, influence, or activity within a system, organization, or debate; the middle ground between two extremes in an ideological or political spectrum.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English (BrE), the spelling is "centre field". The term itself is less common outside discussions of baseball, which is a predominantly North American sport.
Connotations
In AmE, the term has strong cultural connotations related to baseball, a national pastime, which can add a layer of national or traditional resonance to its metaphorical use.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English due to the cultural prominence of baseball. In BrE, it is largely confined to discussions of that specific sport or to direct American cultural imports.
Grammar
How to Use “center field” in a Sentence
play (verb) + [in/at] + center field (object)hit (verb) + to + center field (prepositional object)be (verb) + in + center field (prepositional complement)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “center field” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The coach asked him to centre field for the game.
- He rarely centres field, preferring to play in the infield.
American English
- The manager decided to center field him for his strong arm.
- She can center field or play right field equally well.
adjective
British English
- The centre-field position is crucial.
- He made a spectacular centre-field catch.
American English
- The center-field fence is 400 feet from home plate.
- She has great center-field range.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a moderate, mainstream market position or corporate strategy.
Academic
Used in political science or sociology to describe the median voter or central ideological position.
Everyday
Almost exclusively used in relation to watching or playing baseball/softball.
Technical
Specific positional terminology in baseball statistics and coaching.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “center field”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “center field”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “center field”
- Using 'center field' to mean a central field in agriculture or geography. Confusing it with 'midfield' (which is specific to soccer/football). Using the verb form ('to centerfield') which is non-standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word open compound noun. It is sometimes hyphenated ('center-field') when used as a modifier before a noun (e.g., a center-field hit).
The player is called a 'center fielder' (or 'centre fielder' in BrE).
No, it is not a standard verb. In baseball contexts, you 'play center field' or are 'placed in center field'.
No, cricket has different fielding positions (like 'mid-off', 'mid-on', 'long-on'). 'Centre field' is specific to baseball and softball, though the structure of the phrase might be understood.
The central area of the outfield in baseball or softball, directly beyond second base.
Center field is usually standard, formal, technical. in register.
Center field: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛntə ˌfiːld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛn(t)ər ˌfild/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cover a lot of center field (be responsible for many central areas)”
- “out of center field (surprising, unexpected - derived from 'out of left field')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a baseball diamond. The 'center' of the 'field' behind second base is quite literally the center field.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL SPECTRUM IS A BASEBALL FIELD (The political center is the center field).
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, 'center field' most commonly refers to what?