noun
southpaw
SOWTH-paw
Southpaw (noun) means a left-handed person, especially an athlete such as a boxer or pitcher. Example: “The team's star southpaw pitched a shutout last night.”
noun
1
A left-handed person, especially an athlete such as a boxer or pitcher.
"The team's star southpaw pitched a shutout last night."
"Since home plate is generally in the southwest corner to avoid glare in the batter's eyes, a southpaw's pitching hand is to the south."
"Never touch the food until your host has said grace ("Bismillah") and then not till he has told you to. Eat only with your right hand—it is considered very rude to use the left, even if you are a southpaw."
— United States Army, A short guide to Syria (1943)
"Eleanor would pitch, probably southpaw. Rosalind was outfield, wonderful hitter, Clara first base, maybe."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise/Book Two/Chapter 5 (1920)
How to use southpaw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lefty, especially in sports like boxing or baseball.
Common pairings
southpaw pitcher
southpaw boxer
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like southpaw.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- southpaws
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team's star _____ pitched a shutout last night.
Etymology
From south + paw. First recorded in the early 1800s; commonly explained by old ballpark layouts that put a left-handed pitcher's throwing arm on the south side, though the term may actually trace back further to 1840s boxing slang for a left-handed punch.
Class of 1800
southpaw joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “southpaw” mean?
The word “southpaw” means a left-handed person, especially an athlete such as a boxer or pitcher. In plain terms, a lefty, especially in sports like boxing or baseball.
How do you pronounce “southpaw”?
“Southpaw” is pronounced SOWTH-paw (/ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/ in IPA).
How do you use “southpaw” in a sentence?
Here is “southpaw” used in a sentence: “The team's star southpaw pitched a shutout last night.”
What part of speech is “southpaw”?
“Southpaw” is a noun.
Where does the word “southpaw” come from?
The word “southpaw” dates back to around 1800.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include southpaw:
