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

The 6-4, 232-pound redshirt freshman who helmed the White team completed 16 of 23 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2025

Several members of what hopes to be the next class of greatness were in attendance for Thursday night’s draft, including redshirt freshman Sire Gaines and junior Jambres Dubar. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025

The group includes six redshirt freshmen from SDSU’s 2024 recruiting class — defensive back Tayvion Beasley, cornerback Tayten Beyer, defensive lineman Ryan Gaea, offensive lineman Kai Holec, wide receiver Jason Mitchell and linebacker Danny Niu. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025

The graduate has two years of eligibility remaining due to a mix of an extra COVID year, a redshirt season and a medical redshirt during his 2023 season at Arizona State. —Amelia Hurley, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2025

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