Definition

Noun: 1. The area of a baseball or softball field beyond the infield and between the foul lines: It is the grassy, outer part of the playing field where the outfielders (right fielder, center fielder, left fielder) position themselves to catch fly balls and field ground balls hit by the batter. 2. (In cricket) The part of the field far from the batsman: The area where fielders are positioned at a distance from the pitch. 3. (Archaic/Agricultural) Land farthest from a farmstead or center of cultivation: Often used for pasture or left fallow.

Examples of Usage

• Baseball context:
  • The batter hit a long fly ball deep into the outfield.
  • The team has very fast players covering the outfield.
• Cricket context:
  • The fielder in the deep outfield made an excellent catch to dismiss the batsman.
• Historical/Agricultural context:
  • (Archaic) The cattle were grazing in the outfield beyond the cultivated plots.

Advanced Usage

• "To play the outfield": To have the defensive position of an outfielder in baseball or softball.
  • She prefers to play the outfield rather than be in the infield.
• "Outfield fence/wall": The barrier marking the boundary of the outfield.
  • The home run cleared the outfield fence easily.

Variants and Related Words

• Outfielder (n): A player who defends a position in the outfield.
  • The center outfielder has a strong throwing arm.
• Infield (n): The area of the baseball field within the baselines, contrasting with the outfield.

Synonyms

• (For baseball): The pasture (slang), the garden (slang, specifically for the outfield at the old Yankee Stadium).
• (For cricket): The deep.

Antonyms

• Infield: The inner, dirt-covered part of a baseball field within the baselines.

Noun

1. the area of a baseball playing field beyond the lines connecting the bases