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
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
The traditional pillars of education — reading, writing and arithmetic — have not merely been sidelined; they are now regularly diminished as outdated or insufficient in the face of more fashionable trends. William P. Yeakel, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2025 Connor McDavid was also sidelined with a lower-body injury. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025 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 12 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sideline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!