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

Vanessa, 48, and Kai, 18, were just on the sidelines cheering on Woods at a Florida golf event in March. —Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026

The two pick up best friends, a robot inventor and a kung-fu practicing woman, who have their own romance on the sidelines. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2026

Verb

Those options — less glamorous, less politically legible, but fiscally coherent — have been quietly sidelined. —James Porter, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026

Yes, the Lakers are leaning on a 41-year-old who started the season sidelined because of sciatica. —Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

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