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umpire

noun
um·​pire | \ ˈəm-ˌpÄ«(-ə)r How to pronounce umpire (audio) \

Definition of umpire

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an official in a sport who rules on plays
2 : one having authority to decide finally a controversy or question between parties: such as
a : one appointed to decide between arbitrators who have disagreed
b : an impartial third party chosen to arbitrate disputes arising under the terms of a labor agreement
3 : a military officer who evaluates maneuvers

umpire

verb
umpired; umpiring

Definition of umpire (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to supervise or decide as umpire

intransitive verb

: to act as umpire
Synonyms History of Umpire Example Sentences Learn More about umpire

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History of Umpire

The word umpire was formed by metanalysis, or the changing of the division of words based upon how they sound together. The original word in English was noumpere, which was a borrowing of the French term nompere. The -pere of nompere was the French word for “equal,” a descendant of the Latin word par (“equal”) that is the root of words like peer, pair, and, of course, par. Noumpere became the form used in English for “one without equal” or “peerless,” but frequent references to a noumpere ended up becoming references to an oumpere, which became the modern word umpire. It’s ironic that the word for a person who literally calls balls and strikes is called by a name created by a linguistic foul.

Examples of umpire in a Sentence

Noun

 usually acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates

Verb

 in our family disputes regarding the use of our home entertainment system are umpired by Dad

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Just two weeks ago, Kyrgios was smashing racquets and cursing umpires in Cincinnati. — Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, "U.S. Open Day Four Thoughts: Townsend's Career Win and Kyrgios on His Best Behavior," 29 Aug. 2019 Instead the pitch was called a ball, and the right-hander yelled something to plate umpire Pat Hoberg. — Kristie Rieken, orlandosentinel.com, "Justin Verlander ejected in Astros’ 15-1 rout of Rays," 27 Aug. 2019 The Midwest League uses two umpires per game and provides a rental car for travel throughout the league, which has teams in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. — Charley Walters, Twin Cities, "Charley Walters: Vikings still pack them in for preseason," 24 Aug. 2019 The umpire community is laden either with incompetence or remarkable arrogance. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Robo umps aren’t the answer for incompetence in umpiring," 17 Aug. 2019 From the Northeast through the Midwest, no player, manager or umpire was spared as temperatures soared near triple digits in big league broilers. — Justin Carissimo, CBS News, "Massive heat wave blamed for at least 6 deaths," 21 July 2019 Wearing a wireless ear piece, a human umpire will still be located behind home plate, vocally relaying the call. — Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, "Marlins manager Don Mattingly thinks it’s time for robot umps: 'Hopefully the technology gets there quick’," 18 July 2019 The manager came onto the field to argue after umpires huddled and ruled Orlando Arcia’s grounder did not hit his foot and was a fair ball. — Charles Odum, The Seattle Times, "Gamel’s 10th-inning homer lifts Brewers over Braves, 3-2," 19 May 2019 The others are umpire Fred Bryan of Bloomington, line judge Jeff Seeman of Chaska and down judge Mike Spanier of Sartell. — Chris Tomasson, Twin Cities, "Rookie tight end Irv Smith showing Vikings he can block, too," 15 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 It was made worse by the umpiring crew reversing a third-out call in the outfield and bringing him back from the dugout in the second inning. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Inside the between-starts routine of Orioles prospect Drew Rom as he looks to learn from rare adversity," 28 Aug. 2019 Coincidentally, the game Charlesworth-Seiler umpired featured Kai-Wei Teng, who pitched seven scoreless innings for Cedar Rapids, then was traded by the Twins to the San Francisco Giants for reliever Sam Dyson. — Charley Walters, Twin Cities, "Charley Walters: Vikings still pack them in for preseason," 24 Aug. 2019 Barnett, who retired from umpiring in 1999, said a friend talked him into working with Disabled American Veterans, an organization created by Congress in 1920. — Loyd Brumfield, Dallas News, "Retired major league umpire doesn't miss a call in visit to appreciative disabled vets at Dallas VA," 8 Aug. 2019 Hernandez's umpiring crew concluded that the Rays didn't gain any advantage from the lineup shuffle, so Kolarek was put in the No. — Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, "Boston Red Sox protest loss to Tampa Bay Rays due to lineup card questions," 24 July 2019 Angel Hernandez, to put it nicely, often struggles at umpiring Major League Baseball games. — Andy Nesbitt, For The Win, "MLB fans crushed ump Angel Hernandez over brutal calls in Yankees-Blue Jays game," 4 June 2019 Wednesday night wasn’t the first time Mattingly has been critical of umpiring this season. — Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, "Marlins manager Don Mattingly thinks it’s time for robot umps: 'Hopefully the technology gets there quick’," 18 July 2019 Cricket includes many events that neither team can control, such as injuries, the weather, unpredictable bounces or umpiring decisions. — M.j., The Economist, "How England won the Cricket World Cup," 18 July 2019 The real lesson was umpiring — specifically, how not to do it. — Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, "Giants’ prospects to be showcased in Futures Game," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'umpire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of umpire

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

History and Etymology for umpire

Noun

Middle English oumpere, alteration (from misdivision of a noumpere) of noumpere, from Anglo-French nounpier, nompere, from nounpier, adjective, single, odd, from non- + per equal, from Latin par

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More Definitions for umpire

umpire

noun
How to pronounce umpire (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of umpire

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a person who controls play and makes sure that players act according to the rules in a sports event (such as a baseball game or a cricket or tennis match)

umpire

verb

English Language Learners Definition of umpire (Entry 2 of 2)

: to be an umpire in a sports event (such as a baseball game)

See the full definition for umpire in the English Language Learners Dictionary

umpire

noun
um·​pire | \ ˈəm-ˌpÄ«r How to pronounce umpire (audio) \

Kids Definition of umpire

: an official in a sport (as baseball) who enforces the rules

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