linesman
Americannoun
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linesmen
plural
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Sports.
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an official, as in tennis and soccer, who assists the referee.
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Football. an official who marks the distances gained and lost in the progress of play and otherwise assists the referee and field judge.
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Ice Hockey. either of two officials who assist the referee by watching for icing, offside, and substitution violations and fouls and by conducting face-offs.
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noun
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an official who helps the referee or umpire in various sports, esp by indicating when the ball has gone out of play
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US and Canadian name: lineman. a person who installs, maintains, or repairs telephone or electric-power lines
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of linesman
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It also came after the Kings got a fortunate break, with a Colorado clearing pass striking a linesman, leading to a faceoff in the Kings’ offensive end.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
"The referee looked like he blew and looked like he was listening to someone in his ear, so I'm assuming the linesman gave the decision, and it's absolute shocker."
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
Binnington, who took the historic puck from Ovechkin's goal and pocked it before a linesman retrieved it from him, was pulled after surrendering four goals in just under 30 minutes.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2025
The linesman flagged to award Newcastle the goal and, with no technology at the home of the League One leaders, that decision stood.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025
As he did, the linesman raised his flag: offside.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
It said the team of three overhead linesmen and two vehicles left the Channel Islands to assist on Saturday.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2025
Workers let go include vegetation management inspectors, tree trimmers, electrical linesmen, and pole testers — all work that is critical to wildfire mitigation.
From Salon ● Dec. 17, 2022
The city’s Tennis Association said stakeholders from umpires and linesmen to equipment makers were losing significant revenue from the closures.
From Reuters ● Mar. 21, 2022
Since the NHL doesn’t keep backup officials at regular season games, the Kraken and Penguins finished off overseen by a lone referee and two linesmen instead of the usual four-man officiating crew.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2021
I have known lines to be shelled and blown to pieces a dozen times during the day, and just as often repaired by daring linesmen.
From The Greater Love by George T. McCarthy
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