pitcher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral; the container sense is neutral, the baseball sense is standard in sports contexts.
Quick answer
What does “pitcher” mean?
A large jug or container with a handle and spout, used for holding and pouring liquids.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large jug or container with a handle and spout, used for holding and pouring liquids.
1. (Baseball/Softball) The player who throws the ball to the batter. 2. (Botany) A modified leaf forming a deep cavity, typical of pitcher plants. 3. (Informal, dated) A person who sets something in motion or pitches something (e.g., ideas).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The container sense ('jug') is more common in American English. In British English, 'jug' is the default term for this object; 'pitcher' is understood but less frequent. The baseball/softball sense is identical in both varieties but is more culturally central in AmE.
Connotations
In AmE, 'pitcher' often evokes casual dining, family meals, or baseball. In BrE, it may sound slightly American or specific to certain contexts (e.g., American-themed restaurants).
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English across all senses.
Grammar
How to Use “pitcher” in a Sentence
Pitcher of + [liquid]The + [team] + pitcherA + [adjective] + pitcherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pitcher” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A (The verb is 'to pitch'; 'pitcher' is not a standard verb form.)
American English
- N/A (The verb is 'to pitch'; 'pitcher' is not a standard verb form.)
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjectival use.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adjectival use.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in metaphors: 'He was the lead pitcher for the new account.'
Academic
In botany (pitcher plant) and sports science.
Everyday
Common for containers in AmE; common in sports talk.
Technical
Specific terms in baseball (e.g., submarine pitcher, changeup pitcher) and botany.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pitcher”
- Misspelling as 'picher'.
- Using 'pitcher' (container) in BrE where 'jug' is more natural, potentially sounding affected.
- Confusing 'pitcher' (player) with 'pitcher' (container) in translated texts without context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In essence, yes, they refer to similar vessels. However, 'pitcher' is the preferred term in American English, while 'jug' is more common in British English. There can be subtle stylistic differences, with 'pitcher' sometimes implying a more elegant or traditional design.
Both derive from the verb 'to pitch,' meaning 'to throw' or 'to set/place.' The container is something you 'pitch' (pour/throw) liquid from. The baseball player is the one who 'pitches' (throws) the ball. The shared etymology connects the concepts of hurling or projecting.
No. The related verb is 'to pitch.' 'Pitcher' is exclusively a noun. You 'pitch' the ball, you are the 'pitcher.'
It is a carnivorous plant whose leaves are modified into a deep, fluid-filled cavity (the pitcher) used to trap and digest insects and other small prey. The name is a direct analogy to the shape of the liquid container.
A large jug or container with a handle and spout, used for holding and pouring liquids.
Pitcher is usually neutral; the container sense is neutral, the baseball sense is standard in sports contexts. in register.
Pitcher: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɪtʃə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɪtʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Little pitchers have big ears. (proverb: children overhear things)”
- “Pitcher's duel (baseball: a low-scoring game dominated by pitching)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a PITCHER on the mound PITCHing a ball, then walking to the dugout to drink from a PITCHER of water. Same word, two related actions (to pitch -> pitcher).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR RESOURCES (The pitcher of money was finally empty.), PERSON AS A TOOL/INSTRUMENT (He was used as a mere pitcher for their propaganda.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'pitcher' LEAST likely to be used in contemporary British English?