umpire

American  

[uhm-pahy^uhr] / ˈʌm paɪər /

noun

1. a person selected to rule on the plays in a game.

   Synonyms:

   arbitrator, arbiter, referee

2. one selected to settle disputes about the application of settled rules or usages; a person agreed on by disputing parties to arbitrate their differences.

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verb (used with object)

umpired, umpiring

1. to act as umpire in (a game).

2. to decide or settle (a controversy, dispute, or the like) as umpire; arbitrate.

verb (used without object)

umpired, umpiring

1. to act as umpire.

umpire British  

/ ˈʌmpaɪə /

noun

1. an official who rules on the playing of a game, as in cricket or baseball

2. a person who rules on or judges disputes between contesting parties

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verb

1. to act as umpire in (a game, dispute, or controversy)

Usage

What does umpire mean? An umpire is a kind of referee who enforces the rules during certain sports, such as baseball, softball, and cricket. In higher levels of baseball and softball, there are often multiple umpires on the field. They are primarily responsible for determining whether base runners are “safe” or “out.” The most important one is the home plate umpire, who determines whether each pitch is a “ball” or a “strike.”Umpire is also sometimes used to refer to someone who acts as an impartial judge during some kind of conflict, such as two friends having an argument, as in Jane and Mike were losing their tempers with each other at the meeting so I had to step in and act as an umpire until they calmed down. Less commonly, umpire can be used as a verb meaning to perform the duties of an umpire, as in I signed up to umpire my daughter’s softball games. An informal short form of umpire is ump, which can also be used as both a noun and a verb. It’s especially used as an informal way to address an umpire, as in Hey, ump, that was way out of the strike zone!Example: The umpire called him out, but I’m pretty sure he was safe.

Related Words

See judge.

Other Word Forms

• umpireship noun
• unumpired adjective

Etymology

Origin of umpire

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English umpere, variant of noumpere ( a noumpere taken as an oumpere; adder ¹, apron ), from Old French nomper, nonper “arbiter,” i.e., “one not equal.” See non-, peer ²

Explanation

An umpire is a kind of referee, an official whose job on the baseball or softball field is enforcing the rules of the game. You might hear an umpire yell, "Strike three! You're out!" When a conflict comes up during play, it's the umpire who mediates and ultimately makes an official decision. Umpire is also a verb, meaning to act as an umpire. The word comes from the Old French nonper or "odd number," which refers to a third person helping two others settle their differences.

Example Sentences

It will mean accepting once again, however painful it may be, that balls and strikes are whatever the umpire says they are.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

Essentially a robot umpire that pitchers, catchers and batters can appeal to, ABS seeks to kill the subjectivity of strike calls.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

Bucknor, who has been an MLB umpire since 1996, ejected Red Sox manager Alex Cora after calling Trevor Story out on a check swing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The fact that the strike zone was not static–that it changed from umpire to umpire-was one of these tics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

We and our pathogens are now locked in an escalating evolutionary contest, with the death of one contestant the price of defeat, and with natural selection playing the role of umpire.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• arbitrator
• judge
• ref
• referee
• ump