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

As a redshirt freshman, Freeny has had to battle for playing time this season, going multiple stretches with limited minutes, including one minute of action during last week’s loss to Minnesota. —Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026

But the redshirt junior did have surgery on his foot, and there’s no need to rush back a quarterback with three years of experience and 15 career starts in Sarkisian’s system. —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026

The Cougars trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but McCarty, a redshirt freshman, made 7 of 10 field goal, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc to fuel the comeback. —Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026

As a redshirt freshman in 2023-24, Evers caught an alley-oop for a basket against Oklahoma State. —Gary Bedore march 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 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