shortstop

1 of 2

noun (1)

short·​stop ˈshȯrt-ˌstäp How to pronounce shortstop (audio)
1
: the player position in baseball for defending the infield area on the third-base side of second base
2
: the player stationed in the shortstop position

short-stop

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈshȯrt-ˌstäp How to pronounce short-stop (audio)
: stop bath

Examples of shortstop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
An excellent high school athlete, Watson was selected as a shortstop. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Where this becomes an issue is the Rays are also sacrificing offense at catcher and shortstop. — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 Schmitt is back at shortstop on Monday, batting third, and infielder Christian Koss is in Phoenix on the taxi squad. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 June 2026 The point was for Emerson, also a shortstop, to pick the Kansas City Royals superstar’s brain about the distractions headed his way. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortstop

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shortstop was in 1857

Rhymes for shortstop

See All Rhymes for shortstop

Browse Nearby Words

short-stay
shortstop
short-stop
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Cite this Entry

“Shortstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortstop. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shortstop

noun
short·​stop ˈshȯrt-ˌstäp How to pronounce shortstop (audio)
: the baseball infielder whose position is between second and third base

More from Merriam-Webster on shortstop

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shortstop

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