sideline

[ sahyd-lahyn ]
/ ˈsaɪdˌlaɪn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sideline ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a line at the side of something.
a business or activity pursued in addition to one's primary business; a second occupation.
an additional or auxiliary line of goods: a grocery store with a sideline of household furnishings.
Sports.
  1. either of the two lines defining the side boundaries of a field or court.
  2. sidelines, the area immediately beyond either sideline, where the substitute players sit.
sidelines, the position or point of view taken by a person who observes an activity or situation but does not directly participate in it.

verb (used with object), side·lined, side·lin·ing.

to render incapable of participation, especially in anything involving vigorous, physical action, as a sport: An injury to his throwing arm sidelined the quarterback for two weeks.

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Origin of sideline

An Americanism dating back to 1685–95; side1 + line1

Words nearby sideline

sidehead, sidehill, side horse, sidekick, sidelight, sideline, sideliner, sidelines, sideling, sideload, sidelock
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to sideline

recreation, diversion, subsidiary, hobby, distraction, moonlighting

Example sentences from the Web for sideline

British Dictionary definitions for sideline

sideline
/ (ˈsaɪdˌlaɪn) /

noun

sport a line that marks the side boundary of a playing area
a subsidiary interest or source of income
an auxiliary business activity or line of merchandise

verb (tr)

to prevent (a player) from taking part in a game
to prevent (a person) from pursuing a particular activity, operation, career, etc
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012