center fielder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Sports
Quick answer
What does “center fielder” mean?
A baseball player whose defensive position is in center field, the middle area of the outfield.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A baseball player whose defensive position is in center field, the middle area of the outfield.
A person who occupies a central, coordinating, or pivotal role in a team or organization, analogous to the baseball position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the spelling is 'centre fielder', though the term is almost exclusively used in American contexts. The sport is called 'baseball' in both, but the position is far more culturally salient in the US.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes athleticism, speed, and a crucial defensive role. In British English, it is a recognized but foreign sports term with little cultural resonance.
Frequency
Extremely common in American sports media; very rare in general British English, except when discussing baseball.
Grammar
How to Use “center fielder” in a Sentence
[Team] has a new center fielder.He plays/plays as center fielder for [Team].[Player] is the center fielder.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “center fielder” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- He will center-field for the Yankees next season. (rare, informal)
adjective
American English
- He has center-fielder speed. (attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used metaphorically: 'She acts as the center fielder for our project, coordinating between all departments.'
Academic
Only in sports science, history, or sociology papers discussing baseball.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in conversations about baseball.
Technical
Specific to baseball coaching, statistics (e.g., fielding percentage), and sports commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “center fielder”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “center fielder”
- Misspelling as 'centerfeilder' or 'centerfeilder'. Using it to describe a football (soccer) position. Treating it as a general term for any central player.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two words: 'center fielder'. The hyphenated form 'center-fielder' is less common but acceptable.
To defend the central portion of the outfield, catch fly balls, prevent hits from becoming extra-base hits, and often act as the leader of the outfielders.
Yes, but with the spelling 'centre fielder'. Its usage is confined to contexts discussing baseball, which is less popular in the UK than in the US.
Yes, from the poem/song 'Centerfield' by John Fogerty: 'Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be centerfield.'
A baseball player whose defensive position is in center field, the middle area of the outfield.
Center fielder is usually technical/sports in register.
Center fielder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛntə ˈfiːldə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛn(t)ər ˈfildər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cover more ground than a center fielder (informal, US).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CENTER of the outFIELD. The player in the CENTER FIELD is the CENTER FIELDER.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TEAM IS A BASEBALL TEAM; A KEY COORDINATOR IS THE CENTER FIELDER.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'center fielder' primarily used?