benchwarmer

American  

[bench-wawr-mer] / ˈbɛntʃˌwɔr mər /

Or bench warmer,

noun

Sports.

1. a substitute who rarely gets to play in a game.

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Etymology

Origin of benchwarmer

First recorded in 1890–95; bench + warmer ( def. )

Example Sentences

Plenty of players leave high-majors for low-majors, or even lower divisions, where they might go from benchwarmer to starter.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2022

A high school benchwarmer who was not recruited out of prep school, Preston envisioned a future in basketball before anyone else saw such a career for him.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2022

He’s a benchwarmer, the third-best center on his team.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2021

Brown, the 15th overall pick in 2018, fell out of the Wizards’ rotation this season and Wagner’s role was inconsistent — going from benchwarmer to starter to benchwarmer again.

From Washington Times • Mar. 25, 2021

And yet here he is, a third- string benchwarmer kind of guy, holding the ball for the great Erik Fisher.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor