fielding average: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialized / Technical / Sports Journalism
Quick answer
What does “fielding average” mean?
In baseball and softball, a statistical measure of a fielder's defensive performance, calculated as the number of putouts and assists divided by the total number of chances (putouts + assists + errors).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In baseball and softball, a statistical measure of a fielder's defensive performance, calculated as the number of putouts and assists divided by the total number of chances (putouts + assists + errors).
Used in cricket to refer to a similar, though less formal, assessment of a fielder's reliability or effectiveness. More generally, it can metaphorically describe a person's or system's success rate or reliability in handling assigned tasks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK context, the term is primarily used in coverage of or commentary on cricket, though it is not a standardized official statistic. In the US, it is a formal, official baseball statistic. The calculation method is identical in concept but applied to different sports.
Connotations
US: Evokes the precise, number-driven culture of American baseball analytics. UK: Suggests a more informal, observational assessment of a cricketer's fielding skill.
Frequency
High frequency in US sports media (baseball). Low-to-moderate frequency in UK sports media (cricket), usually in analytical commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “fielding average” in a Sentence
[Player] + has/boasts a fielding average of [number].[Player's] + fielding average + is [number].To calculate + the fielding average.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fielding average” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The commentator praised the fielder's impressive season-long fielding average.
- In cricket, a rough fielding average can be estimated from dropped catches.
American English
- His .997 fielding average led the American League last season.
- The shortstop's fielding average dipped slightly after two early errors.
adjective
British English
- He is a high-fielding-average player. (less common)
American English
- She is known for her fielding-average excellence. (less common)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for an employee's error-free task completion rate (e.g., 'Her fielding average on client reports is exceptional').
Academic
Used in sports science papers analysing defensive performance data.
Everyday
Rare; only among sports fans discussing player performance.
Technical
Precise term in baseball statistics and record-keeping.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fielding average”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fielding average”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fielding average”
- Incorrect: 'His fielding average is high, so he makes many errors.' (Correct: A high fielding average means FEW errors.)
- Incorrect: 'field medium' or 'field average'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'average performance' outside of fielding contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A higher fielding average is better. It represents a higher percentage of successful defensive plays. The maximum is 1.000 (perfect).
Yes, but informally. While not an official statistic like in baseball, commentators and analysts may refer to a player's 'fielding average' to discuss their general reliability in the field.
Batting average measures offensive success (hits per at-bat). Fielding average measures defensive success (successful fielding plays per total chances). They are completely different statistics.
Yes, metaphorically. It can describe a person's or system's success rate in handling tasks without errors (e.g., 'Our客服 team's fielding average for resolving complaints is over 95%').
In baseball and softball, a statistical measure of a fielder's defensive performance, calculated as the number of putouts and assists divided by the total number of chances (putouts + assists + errors).
Fielding average is usually specialized / technical / sports journalism in register.
Fielding average: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfiːldɪŋ ˌævərɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfildɪŋ ˌævərɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's playing at a .950 fielding average.”
- “Her fielding average on that project was near perfect.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a fielder catching balls in a FIELD. Their AVERAGE score shows how many they catch versus how many they miss. FIELD + AVERAGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE IS A MATHEMATICAL RATING. RELIABILITY IS A HIGH SCORE.
Practice
Quiz
What does a high fielding average indicate?