fungo

American

[fuhng-goh] / ˈfʌŋ goʊ /

noun

Baseball.

plural

fungoes

(in practice sessions) a ball tossed into the air by the batter and struck as it comes down.
a batted ball, especially a fly ball, hit in this manner.
Also called fungo bat. a bat used in hitting fungoes, being lighter, longer, and narrower than an ordinary baseball bat.

Etymology

Origin of fungo

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Most of us couldn’t stand in right field with a fungo and hit it up there,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said with a shake of his head.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2021

"Most of us couldn’t stand in right field with a fungo and hit it up there," Royals manager Mike Matheny said with a shake of his head.

From Fox News • Sep. 7, 2021

Kris Kemp of Covina asks: Could a player use a fungo bat in a game?

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2019

Montague used a fungo bat off the tee and drove the ball into a bunker.

From Golf Digest • Dec. 9, 2016

I will wear that happy wife's blessing in my inmost heart, and like those old bells in Cambridgeshire, inscribed, 'Pestem fungo!

From St. Elmo by Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023