benchwarmer

noun

bench·​warm·​er ˈbench-ˌwȯr-mər How to pronounce benchwarmer (audio)
: a reserve player on an athletic team

Examples of benchwarmer in a Sentence

I played a little, but mostly I was a benchwarmer.
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.
Thanks to Hunt's soft spot for benchwarmers, all entries—even the losers—will receive a bag of treats. Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 Then, with former benchwarmers like Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza and rookie Hugo Gonzalez all playing key roles, the Celtics smashed their preseason expectations by posting the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-best net rating in the NBA. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Apr. 2026 Ex high school benchwarmers are roaming the streets abducting mestizos. Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 30 Nov. 2025 The visiting Blazers were missing every guard but benchwarmers Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for benchwarmer

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of benchwarmer was in 1892

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Benchwarmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benchwarmer. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

benchwarmer

noun
bench·​warm·​er ˈbench-ˌwȯr-mər How to pronounce benchwarmer (audio)
: a reserve player on a sports team
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