linesman

noun

lines·​man ˈlīnz-mən 

1

: lineman sense 1

2

: an official who assists a referee (as in football, tennis, or hockey) especially in determining if a ball, puck, or player is out-of-bounds or offside

Examples of linesman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first period ended with a multiple-player brawl that resulted in linesman Kilian McNamara inadvertently catching a stick in the face and two players from each team taking 2-minute minor penalties. —ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

Reaves injured his left hand in the fight, and needed some help from the linesmen just to release his grip on Wilson after the two separated. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026

Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) is escorted off the ice by linesman Ryan Gibbons (58) after he was called for a penalty in the closing minutes of the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, March 12, 2026. —Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

What a terrible day for the linesmen. —Josh Yohe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing linesman

• head linesman

Kids Definition

linesman

noun

lines·​man ˈlīnz-mən 

: an official who assists a referee in a game (as football or hockey)