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

The men who listened in within that final players’ huddle Sunday, and who watched from the sideline, know how rare this is. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025

Guardiola, usually a manager who passionately cajoles his players on the sidelines, cut a far more demure figure in the second half. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Verb

He was sidelined for six weeks and returned for the under-21s in their EFL Trophy victory against Swindon Town. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Defensive anchor Nick Bosa was lost to a torn ACL in September, while All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner suffered a season-ending fractured, dislocated ankle in October, and Kittle suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for five early games. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 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