grand slam
noun
1
baseball
: a home run hit with the bases loaded
… the Dodgers' Eric Karros has a shot to become the first player in history to get 200 career home runs without a grand slam.—Tim Kurkjian
2
a
usually Grand Slam
(1)
: the winning of all four of the most significant championships in a particular sport in the same year
—used especially in tennis and golf
… with … Nadal spoiling Federer's bid for the Grand Slam by beating him on the clay at the French Open.—Sean Gregory
"And so to St. Andrews to begin the quest for the Grand Slam," he [Bobby Jones] wrote.—Dave Anderson
also
: the winning of all four such championships during the course of one's career
Woods … could become the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam, at age 24. —Clifton Brown
(2)
: one of the championships that comprise a Grand Slam : major entry 2 sense 6
"Last year she was a little hungrier," says Davenport's coach, Robert Van't Hof. "She hadn't won a Grand Slam yet."—Diane K. Shah
—often used before another nouna Grand Slam event/tournament
Graf was 17 when she won the first of her 21 Grand Slam titles here in 1987 …—Robin Finn
b
: a clean sweep or total success
3
: the winning of all the tricks in one hand of a card game (such as bridge)
Once, looking over Grace's shoulder, I saw her make a grand slam in clubs when the highest trump card in her hand was the nine.—William Maxwell
Cite this Entry
“Grand slam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20slam. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
