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Glite Dictionary
lefthander

lefthander

1 5.2
A baseball pitcher who throws with the left hand
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛfˌhændər/
translation icon : zurdo
  • During the game, the coach decided to start the lefthander to take advantage of the opposing team's weak lineup.
  • an old lefthander
  • an ace lefthander
  • a year-old lefthander

Examples

  • Lefthander Brian Duensing looks promising.

    Blog text (28)

  • If necessary, can the lefthander adequately replace the veteran outfielder?

    Blog text (19)

  • Lefthander Glen Perkins, who might have to mend some relationships within the organization, is still around and is talented.

    Blog text (28)

  • The young lefthander surprised everyone by striking out the strongest hitters in the league.

  • Many teams prefer a good lefthander for their starting rotation to keep batters off balance.

Synonyms

pitcher
vslefthander
198 2.7

A player in baseball who throws the ball to the batter

is specific to throwing with the left hand rather than any player
lefty
vslefthander
  • Informal
60 8.2

A person who uses their left hand more than their right, often a baseball pitcher

is specific to a baseball pitcher not a general informal left-hand reference
southpaw
vslefthander
  • Jargon
12 8.7

A person who uses their left hand in sports like boxing or baseball

is specific to a baseball pitcher rather than any athlete using the left hand
left-hander
vslefthander
5 5.5

A baseball pitcher who throws the ball with the left hand

has identical meaning but is written without a hyphen
left-handed pitcher
vslefthander
3 3.5

A baseball player who throws the ball to batters with the left hand

has identical meaning but is a single-word label

Antonyms

righthander
1 3.2

A person who usually uses their right hand for writing or throwing

Surface Forms

lefthander singular
lefthanders plural

Morphology

lefthander = left + hand (transparent) = left + hand + er

Built from the compound 'left' + 'hand' with the agentive suffix '-er' to mean a person who uses the left hand; meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Lefthander comes from the simple parts left and hand, literally meaning someone who uses their 'left' 'hand'. In sports like baseball, a lefthander is a pitcher who throws with the left hand, so the name directly tells you how they play.