first baseman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (common in sports contexts, especially North America)Informal to neutral, primarily sports journalism and commentary
Quick answer
What does “first baseman” mean?
The defensive baseball player who covers first base.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The defensive baseball player who covers first base.
In baseball, the infielder positioned near first base responsible for fielding balls hit to that area, catching throws from other infielders to record outs at first base, and often involved in double plays.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in American English contexts due to baseball's primary popularity in the US and some East Asian countries. In British English, where baseball is rarely played, the term would be understood primarily through exposure to American media.
Connotations
In American English: evokes baseball, athletic skill, and specific defensive strategy. In British English: strongly marked as an Americanism related to a niche sport.
Frequency
Very high frequency in American sports discourse; extremely low to near-zero in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “first baseman” in a Sentence
[Team] moved their power hitter to first baseman.He was drafted as a first baseman.The manager needs a reliable first baseman.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first baseman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - not standardly used as an adjective.
American English
- N/A - not standardly used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'She's our first baseman on the client account, handling all final approvals.'
Academic
Only in specific contexts like sports history, kinesiology, or sociology of sport.
Everyday
Common in everyday conversation in baseball-playing regions, especially during the season. Uncommon elsewhere.
Technical
Specific to baseball coaching, strategy, and statistics (e.g., fielding percentage, putouts).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first baseman”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first baseman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first baseman”
- Using 'first base man' as separate words (should be compound 'first baseman').
- Confusing with 'first base' (the location) vs. 'first baseman' (the player).
- Using incorrect plural: 'first basemans' (correct: 'first basemen').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but rarely used in active discourse in the UK, as cricket and football dominate the sports lexicon. It is recognized as an American baseball term.
In professional baseball contexts, the term is traditionally male-gendered. In mixed or women's leagues, the gender-neutral term 'first base player' is sometimes used, though 'first baseman' is still common. The position in softball is typically called 'first baseman' regardless of gender.
'First base' is the physical base or the position on the field. 'First baseman' is the specific player assigned to defend that position.
Yes, 'Hot Corner' refers to third base, not first. First base is sometimes colloquially called 'the initial sack'. The phrase 'stretch at first' refers to the first baseman's move to catch a wide throw while keeping a foot on the base.
The defensive baseball player who covers first base.
First baseman is usually informal to neutral, primarily sports journalism and commentary in register.
First baseman: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈbeɪsmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːrst ˈbeɪsmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He has hands like a first baseman. (Referring to good catching ability)”
- “Playing first base (can metaphorically mean handling the final or crucial step in a process).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FIRST' base + 'MAN' (person). The person stationed at the FIRST of the four bases.
Conceptual Metaphor
A foundational or anchoring point (from the defensive importance of first base as the primary target for most outs).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defensive responsibility of a first baseman?