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

Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Tina Fey, Dave Chapelle, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Larry David, Chris Rock and Fat Joe were also seen at the Garden earlier this week, enthusiastically cheering on the New York Knicks from the sideline. —Matt Minton, Variety, 11 June 2026

Offensive depth chart coming together With Moton on the sideline, free-agent addition Stone Forsythe worked with the first- and second-team units at right tackle. —Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026

Verb

Both are sidelined with elbow injuries, so Stephen Kolek and Luinder Avila will need to help fill the void. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026

Instead, experts predict that mortgage rates will remain higher than previously anticipated, sidelining many shoppers who had hoped to buy a home. —Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 12 June 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

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline

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