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

Darnold sidestepped him, moved up in the pocket and extended the play toward the right sideline. —Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024

The Plumber had a sideline in exotic investment plays—heady, esoteric, out-of-the-box stuff. —Josh Condon, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024

Verb

These were some of the sharpest taskmasters in the business who seemed sidelined by circumstance. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024

Scott has been sidelined by health issues, missing two weeks of votes in November due to treatment for a back injury, a similar situation to that of Grijalva, who underwent cancer treatment earlier this year. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

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