force-out

IPA/ˈfɔːs aʊt/
IPA/ˈfɔːrs aʊt/

force-out — noun

1. a baseball out made when a runner has to advance and a defender reaches the requ

1.nounC2
Definition

a baseball out made when a runner has to advance and a defender reaches the required base with the ball before the runner does.

Example

The second baseman stepped on the bag for a routine force-out.

collocation: routine force-out

With bases loaded, Mei hit a ground ball that became a force-out at home.

force-out at home after bases-loaded ground ball

Common collocations
  • get a force-out
  • record a force-out
  • routine force-out
  • force-out at second
  • force-out at home
Synonyms
  • force play

    names the situation or type of play, not always the completed out itself

  • putout

    broader baseball term for any recorded out, not only this kind

  • out

    very general and does not explain how the runner was retired

Grammar Patterns

get a force-out

force-out at [base]

Usage Note

This term is used only when the runner is required to move to the next base. If the runner can stay where they are, the defense must tag the runner instead.

Common Mistakes

The catcher tagged him for a force-out.
The catcher stepped on home plate for a force-out.
A force-out is recorded by touching the base while the runner is forced to advance.
The shortstop force-outed the runner at second.
The shortstop got a force-out at second.
English usually uses get or record with this noun.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These baseball terms are related, but they point to different parts of a play. Force play refers to a situation where a runner must advance because another runner is coming behind them. Force-out is the actual out recorded in that situation when the defense touches the correct base first. Tag-out is different because the defender must touch the runner with the ball or glove instead of simply touching the base. Putout is the broad scoring term for any recorded out, so it includes force-outs, tag-outs, and other kinds of outs.

force play ↗tag-outputout

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • get a force-out
  • record a force-out
  • turn a force-out
  • force-out at home
  • force-out at second

Prepositions

  • for a force-out
  • on a force-out
  • at home
  • at second

Etymology

English

This baseball term combines force, meaning that the runner is obliged to move, and out, the result when the defense retires that runner. It developed in the language of scorekeeping and game commentary to describe this specific kind of out.