second-string
adjective
sec·ond-string
ˌse-kən(d)-ˈstriŋ 
ˌse-kᵊŋ-
: being a substitute as distinguished from a regular (as on a ball team)
Examples of second-string in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The undrafted rookie has impressed head coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff ever since the team added him in late spring, working his way up to second-string amid several injuries, trades and cuts along the way.
—
Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Last week, Lenoir and Mustapha each grabbed one interception in a 41-22 win at Arizona, but the defense still allowed second-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett to set an NFL record with 47 completions for 452 yards passing.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
For two straight seasons, Ballard has beaten out Marshall for the second-string job.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
After the Browns traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week, fans and pundits speculated whether Sanders would even be elevated to the second-string job, or remain in the third-string role behind Bailey Zappe.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
And San Francisco would not have pulled it off if not for the play of a quarterback who entered the season second-string.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Notre Dame needed just two plays from there, with second-string tailback Jadarian Price taking a swing pass in the right flats through the middle of Arkansas’ defense for a 35-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining before intermission.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
Heck, even Emory Williams had a 10 yard carry in the fourth quarter during the one drive when UM put its second-string offense in to wrap up the game.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
Albin gave second-string quarterback Grayson Loftis the 49ers’ final two drives.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
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Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Last week, Lenoir and Mustapha each grabbed one interception in a 41-22 win at Arizona, but the defense still allowed second-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett to set an NFL record with 47 completions for 452 yards passing.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
For two straight seasons, Ballard has beaten out Marshall for the second-string job.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
After the Browns traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week, fans and pundits speculated whether Sanders would even be elevated to the second-string job, or remain in the third-string role behind Bailey Zappe.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
And San Francisco would not have pulled it off if not for the play of a quarterback who entered the season second-string.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Notre Dame needed just two plays from there, with second-string tailback Jadarian Price taking a swing pass in the right flats through the middle of Arkansas’ defense for a 35-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining before intermission.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
Heck, even Emory Williams had a 10 yard carry in the fourth quarter during the one drive when UM put its second-string offense in to wrap up the game.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
Albin gave second-string quarterback Grayson Loftis the 49ers’ final two drives.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-string.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-string. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
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