redshirt

noun

red·​shirt ˈred-ˌshərt 

: a college athlete who is kept out of varsity competition for a year in order to extend eligibility

redshirt verb

Examples of redshirt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Black will join rising redshirt senior Devin McDonough and rising sophomore Luke Brown on the roster. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026

McKinney spent two seasons at Oklahoma State, including a redshirt year, and two seasons at Colorado. —Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026

The departures of veterans Ja’Kobi Jackson, who played just four games because of injury, and Treyaun Webb, who did not play in 2025, put redshirt freshman Duke Clark and Byron Louis behind Baugh. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026

Adding another linebacker with starting experience at the Group of Five level would provide more stability to that position, as TCU will be leaning on Carroll, Short, reserve Michael Teason and a bunch of redshirt freshmen next season if things remain the same. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the red jersey commonly worn by such a player in practice scrimmages against the regulars

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for redshirt

• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt