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

An abrupt sidebar with Kyle confirms that the reasons are diabolically political. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026

Following that question, the judge asked to see attorneys at sidebar due to an objection by the prosecution. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Selecting a ticket opens an overlay with the ticket description, priority, request type, and status in a left-hand sidebar. — Dianna Gunn, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026

Since Cannes, Tangles has continued its festival run in France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June and will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Centrepiece sidebar. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Aug. 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