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

Robinett, a redshirt sophomore who was playing due to injuries elsewhere, had not homered since March 24, 2023, at then-No. 1 LSU, a span of 771 days. —Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025

Easton Stick, North Dakota State Round 5, No. 166 | Los Angeles Chargers Stick was Carson Wentz’s backup as a redshirt freshman with the Bison in 2015 before leading NDSU to national titles in 2017 and 2018. —Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Utah transfer and redshirt senior Sam Huard is likely to finish third in this race. —Antonio Morales, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025

The 6-foot-5 ¾, 329-pound redshirt season pushes to build on a strong November highlighted by 3.5 sacks during consecutive wins against LSU and Ole Miss. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 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