sidekick
Americannoun
-
a close friend.
-
a confederate or assistant.
noun
Etymology
Origin of sidekick
Explanation
A sidekick is a buddy who comes with you on your adventures. If you’re a superhero, your sidekick helps you fight crime. Electra Woman’s sidekick was the teenage Dyna Girl, and in the ‘70s they defeated villains on TV. A sidekick might be a work assistant, a best friend, or even a devoted dog that follows you to school every day. Sometimes this word signifies an imbalance of power, though; if you say, “This is my sidekick, Sarah," it implies that Sarah has less authority than you do. The origin of this word is unknown, but we do know that it appeared after the terms side-pal and side-partner fell out of fashion.
Vocabulary lists containing sidekick
Superhero Lexicon
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
New Kid
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Comic Book Day
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Opening for Sykes was her former sidekick on “The Wanda Sykes Show,” Keith Robinson.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
During the regular season, the Lakers used him in a sidekick role.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Johnny and his sidekick, Ed McMahon, gave adults a relaxing reprieve from the stresses of everyday living by offering light humor without any negative slants.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026
What was it like finding the nuance in a character that, in many other series, would likely be a goofy sidekick or punchline?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
She knew it wouldn’t be another puzzle-loving computer nut with a cowlick sidekick.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
