sidebar

noun

side·​bar ˈsīd-ˌbär 

1

a

: a short news story or graphic accompanying and presenting sidelights of a major story

b

: something incidental : sidelight

a sidebar to the essay's central theme

2

: a conference between the judge, the lawyers, and sometimes the parties to a case that the jury does not hear

Examples of sidebar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Emergency managers leaned over laptops and traded updates in sidebars. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 27 May 2026

Without it, the films in the main competition and various sidebars of the fest are left alone to hold up the pageantry and scrutiny the annual event demands. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026

In addition to the main text and many archival images of the singer throughout the years, this immersive book contains sidebars devoted to other aspects of Nicks’ career, including her fashions, collaborations and friendships, causes, and place in pop culture. —David Chiu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The Palm Dog, Cannes’ beloved, unofficial awards show celebrating the best canine performances across the official selection and various sidebars, has crowned its winner for 2026. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for sidebar

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar

Legal Definition

sidebar

noun

side·​bar ˈsīd-ˌbär 

: sidebar conference

had failed to request a sidebar before injecting the collateral offense into the trial

—Dockery v. State, 659 So. 2d 219 (1994)

also : the place near or before the bench where a sidebar conference takes place

the judge informed both attorneys…that they…could stand at sidebar while questions were posed

—Commonwealth v. Urena, 632 N.E.2d 1200 (1994)

compare bench, stand

sidebar adjective