sideline

1 of 2

noun

side·​line ˈsīd-ˌlīn How to pronounce sideline (audio)
1
: a line at right angles to a goal line or end line and marking a side of a court or field of play for athletic games
2
a
: a line of goods sold in addition to one's principal line
b
: a business or activity pursued in addition to one's regular occupation
3
a
: the space immediately outside the lines along either side of an athletic field or court
b
: a sphere of little or no participation or activity
usually used in plural

sideline

2 of 2

verb

sidelined; sidelining; sidelines

transitive verb

: to put out of action : put on the sidelines

Examples of sideline in a Sentence

Noun She makes and sells jewelry as a sideline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On the sideline, DRC’s French head coach Sébastien Desabre pulls at his wispy white hair. Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026 According to the New York Times, initial seating maps prior to the ticket sales period for the June 12 game at SoFi Stadium showed Category 1 giving match attendees a chance to sit in the best seats — along the sidelines and behind the goal. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Verb
Heated Rivalry, while still contending with the strict heteronormative and masculine nature attributed to hockey culture, builds a romance between Shane and Ilya that is neither sidelined nor simplified. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026 Bergstrom competed all throughout last year with an ailing knee, a season after she was sidelined at state due to a stress fracture in her foot. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sideline

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sideline was circa 1862

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sideline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideline. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

sideline

noun
side·​line
-ˌlīn
1
: a line marking the side of a playing field or court
2
: a business or job done in addition to one's regular occupation

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