✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

second fiddle

noun

: one that plays a supporting or subservient role

Examples of second fiddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Toronto has played second fiddle in the free-agent market for much of the past two years, losing out on Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki. Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025 The Ed Gein Story and All’s Fair were met with critical hostility — the first is a thematically repetitive and exploitative condemnation of true crime and the audience who loves it, the second a bizarrely overqualified ensemble of acting titans playing second fiddle to Kim Kardashian. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025 Dubar has also had to contend with playing second fiddle to some NFL-caliber running backs in his time at Boise State. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 5 Nov. 2025 The Los Angeles Dodgers have often played second fiddle to the New York Yankees in baseball’s history books. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for second fiddle

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of second fiddle was in 1809

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20fiddle. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

second fiddle

noun
: a person who fills a secondary role

More from Merriam-Webster on second fiddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!