fieldsman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical (Sport)
Quick answer
What does “fieldsman” mean?
A fielder in cricket, positioned in the field to stop the ball or catch it after it has been hit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fielder in cricket, positioned in the field to stop the ball or catch it after it has been hit.
The term can occasionally be used more broadly in a joking or metaphorical sense to refer to someone working in an open area, but this is extremely rare and the primary meaning is strictly cricketing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is exclusive to cricket, a sport predominantly played in Commonwealth nations. It is not used in American English, where the general term 'fielder' from baseball is understood. In the US, the word would be largely unrecognized.
Connotations
In the UK and other cricket-playing nations, it carries neutral, technical sporting connotations. In non-cricket contexts, it has no connotation as it is not used.
Frequency
High frequency in cricket commentary and reports within cricket-playing nations. Virtually zero frequency in American English or in general global English outside a cricket context.
Grammar
How to Use “fieldsman” in a Sentence
The fieldsman [verb, e.g., caught, stopped, threw] the ball.[Determiner, e.g., An excellent, The] fieldsman was positioned at [location, e.g., deep square leg].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Only in the context of sports studies or cricket history.
Everyday
Only in everyday conversation within cricket-playing cultures.
Technical
Exclusively used in the technical context of cricket commentary, coaching, and rulebooks.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fieldsman”
- Using 'fieldsman' in non-cricket contexts.
- Confusing it with 'fielder' in baseball, though they are conceptually similar.
- Misspelling as 'feildsman' or 'fieldman'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In cricket, they are synonyms. 'Fielder' is slightly more common in modern usage, but 'fieldsman' is perfectly correct and traditional.
Yes, in cricket terminology, 'fieldsman' is the standard term for any player in that position, regardless of gender, though 'fielder' is often preferred to avoid the '-man' suffix.
No. The term is specific to cricket, which is not a major sport in the US. An American would use 'fielder' (from baseball) or simply not recognise the word.
The standard plural is 'fieldsmen'.
A fielder in cricket, positioned in the field to stop the ball or catch it after it has been hit.
Fieldsman is usually technical (sport) in register.
Fieldsman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfiːldzmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfildzmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CRICKET FIELD where the MAN stands to catch the ball: a FIELDS-MAN.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for this highly specific technical term.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'fieldsman' exclusively used?