sideline

1 of 2

noun

side·​line ˈsīd-ˌlīn 

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

Noun

This update comes after a significant sideline period for the AEW star. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

The 2024 second-round draft pick spent the bulk of his rookie season on the sideline. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025

Verb

Boston swept Indiana, but Haliburton was sidelined for the last two games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse due to a hamstring injury. —Kelly Iko, New York Times, 10 May 2025

Meanwhile, Buehler was sidelined again with a shoulder issue, come-backing Lucas Giolito was awful in his first two starts, and last year’s No. 2 Tanner Houck has regressed mightily (6.10 ERA, 8 HR). —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sideline

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

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