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

With the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth, Johnson, a redshirt sophomore who starred at Monte Vista High and Cuesta JC, delivered the shot heard around college baseball. —Mercury News Staff, Mercury News, 30 May 2026

Sahir West, edge, James Madison → UCLA (3) West, a second-team All-Sun Belt pick as a redshirt freshman and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, had 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks last season. —Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Due to his redshirt and scout team years, McQuarrie could play two years at a Division II school. —Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026

The redshirt junior is already the presumptive Heisman favorite heading into this season, and the Longhorns will be viewed as one of the teams with the shortest odds to win it all. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 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