garbage time
noun
US, sports
: the final moments or minutes of a game in which one side has an insurmountable lead, substitutes often enter the game in place of starting players, and scoring is typically easier because of looser defensive play
… the forgotten foursome of Greg Kite, Fred Roberts, Sam Vicent and Conner Henry will be on call in case of extreme emergency and those meaningless minutes appropriately referred to as garbage time.—
Gerry Finn
Gerry FinnOne touchdown was all the Broncos' D allowed, and that came in garbage time.—Paul Zimmerman
Paul ZimmermanExamples of garbage time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most of his limited playing time for Boston has come in garbage time, but the Rutgers product made a surprise early-game appearance in last Friday’s double-overtime win over Brooklyn, subbing in midway through the first quarter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
After playing only garbage time a year ago as Nix started 17 games, Denver gave Stidham $7 million guaranteed over two years to return as Nix’s backup.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
Marcus Johansson scored Minnesota’s second goal in garbage time, his first of the New Year and 13th of the season.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026
The approach shuffled Dru Smith out of the mix until garbage time and left Kasparas Jakucionis and Simone Fontecchio out of the mix until the waning stages, as well.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
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Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
After playing only garbage time a year ago as Nix started 17 games, Denver gave Stidham $7 million guaranteed over two years to return as Nix’s backup.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
Marcus Johansson scored Minnesota’s second goal in garbage time, his first of the New Year and 13th of the season.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026
The approach shuffled Dru Smith out of the mix until garbage time and left Kasparas Jakucionis and Simone Fontecchio out of the mix until the waning stages, as well.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for garbage time
Cite this Entry
“Garbage time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garbage%20time. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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