second string

noun

1. Sports. the squad of players available either individually or as a team to replace or relieve those who start a game.
2. a secondary position, status, or group, as in a level of corporate management.

second string

noun

1. an alternative course of action, etc, intended to come into use should the first fail (esp in the phrase a second string to one's bow )
2. a substitute or reserve player or team

adjective

1. sport
   1. being a substitute player
   2. being the second-ranked player of a team in an individual sport
2. second-rate or inferior

Other Words From

• second-string adjective
• second-stringer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of second string¹

1635–45 in sense “backup, resort,” alluding to a second bowstring; 1860–65, applied to racehorses; 1950–55, to sports teams

Example Sentences

True, she was only a second-string nominee, after Tom Daschle had to bow out because of those tax problems.

From The Daily Beast

A modest salary, and the Heisman-worthy running back should make the same as the pine-riding second-string punter.

From The Daily Beast

But for all the advantages Assad has handed to them, they cannot dislodge his second-string units from the city.

From The Daily Beast

He took me from a second-string team and gave me a chance to make good on the Giants.

From Project Gutenberg

Driscolls firm for starting with a second-string line, but I dont like it.

From Project Gutenberg

Any second-string fellow that looks as if he was being held back?

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose Driscoll wants to bring him around for second-string man.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor was it the second-string outfit of the Moguls that would come.

From Project Gutenberg