second-string
adjective
sec·ond-string
ˌse-kən(d)-ˈstriŋ 
ˌse-kᵊŋ-
: being a substitute as distinguished from a regular (as on a ball team)
Examples of second-string in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Weir sang the band’s country covers and his own material, and played rhythm guitar in a brilliantly eccentric manner that belied the job’s second-string implications — even while soundman Dan Healy was turning him down in the mix.
—
Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Their second-string defense held Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos without a touchdown.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Crimson Tide second-string quarterback Austin Mack finished the game with 103 passing yards.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
But Jonah Williams has earned second-string snaps during Citrus Bowl practices the past week.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
Garza was the Celtics’ second-string center for the first month of the season, but the team’s late-November shift toward smaller lineups pushed him out of the rotation.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Another silver lining to Lopez possibly getting a run as a starter is what that may do for Collins, who was supposed to originally be in a tandem with Lopez as second-string bigs.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The undrafted rookie has impressed head coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff ever since the team added him in late spring, working his way up to second-string amid several injuries, trades and cuts along the way.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Last week, Lenoir and Mustapha each grabbed one interception in a 41-22 win at Arizona, but the defense still allowed second-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett to set an NFL record with 47 completions for 452 yards passing.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Their second-string defense held Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos without a touchdown.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Crimson Tide second-string quarterback Austin Mack finished the game with 103 passing yards.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
But Jonah Williams has earned second-string snaps during Citrus Bowl practices the past week.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
Garza was the Celtics’ second-string center for the first month of the season, but the team’s late-November shift toward smaller lineups pushed him out of the rotation.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Another silver lining to Lopez possibly getting a run as a starter is what that may do for Collins, who was supposed to originally be in a tandem with Lopez as second-string bigs.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The undrafted rookie has impressed head coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff ever since the team added him in late spring, working his way up to second-string amid several injuries, trades and cuts along the way.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Last week, Lenoir and Mustapha each grabbed one interception in a 41-22 win at Arizona, but the defense still allowed second-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett to set an NFL record with 47 completions for 452 yards passing.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-string.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-string. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
