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
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May. Xinghui Kok, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025 However, Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrew confirmed that Barkley was questionable to return after suffering a groin injury. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
Defensive end Nick Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner are out for the year with a torn ACL and ankle injury, respectively, and Bryce Huff, their other starting DE, is currently sidelined with a hamstring ailment. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 Hull seemed perplexed by this as an alarming number of season-ending injuries continued to pile up, sidelining five of her own Indiana Fever teammates before their unexpected—and frankly remarkable—playoff run. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 27 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 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
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