onside

American  

[on-sahyd, awn-] / ˈɒnˈsaɪd, ˈɔn- /

adjective

Sports.

1. not offside; being within the prescribed line or area at the beginning of or during play or a play.

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onside British  

/ ˌɒnˈsaɪd /

adjective

1. sport (of a player) in a legal position, as when behind the ball or with a required number of opponents between oneself and the opposing team's goal line

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adjective

1. taking one's part or side; working towards the same goal (esp in the phrase get someone onside ) Compare offside

Etymology

Origin of onside

First recorded in 1840–50; on + side ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

onside

On foreign policy, too, they have both sought to keep US President Donald Trump onside.

From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026

Guler found Vinicius, who span the ball across for Mbappe, just onside, to tuck home.

From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026

Administration officials are also mulling offering lump-sum payments to Greenlanders to buy them onside.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026

While results were not always good, players remained onside - at least those who were not in the 'bomb squad' exiled at the start of pre-season training.

From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026

Kanue didn’t snap at Muamer; he simply gestured with his hand to encourage his new teammate to stay onside, to be patient.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John