sideline

1 of 2

noun

side·​line ˈsīd-ˌlīn 

1

: a line at right angles to a goal line or end line and marking a side of a court or field of play for athletic games

2

a

: a line of goods sold in addition to one's principal line

b

: a business or activity pursued in addition to one's regular occupation

3

a

: the space immediately outside the lines along either side of an athletic field or court

b

: a sphere of little or no participation or activity

—usually used in plural

sideline

2 of 2

verb

sidelined; sidelining; sidelines

transitive verb

: to put out of action : put on the sidelines

Examples of sideline in a Sentence

Noun

She makes and sells jewelry as a sideline.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But there has certainly been a sense that the festival has been trying to keep the politics on the sidelines, or least displayed through the art rather than the artist. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026

Lozano continues to sit on a ball on the sideline at practice, elbow on knee, chin on hand. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

Verb

The curator for the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts has seen too many local artists sidelined over the years for speaking about politics, power or prejudice in their work. —Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026

One year after Vice President JD Vance excoriated European leaders and accused them of sidelining far-right parties, Rubio’s politer tone came as a relief to many in the audience. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sideline

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

Kids Definition

sideline

noun

side·​line

-ˌlīn

1

: a line marking the side of a playing field or court

2

: a business or job done in addition to one's regular occupation