Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

sixth man

American  
[man] / mæn /

noun

Basketball.
  1. a team's best substitute.


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.

He first rose to prominence as the sixth man for the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he helped lead a young team to the 2012 Finals alongside Durant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Then both of those burdens suddenly vanished when he beat Justin Rose in a playoff here, making him just the sixth man to win all four major golf titles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

McIlroy became only the sixth man to complete golf's career Grand Slam with a long-awaited victory at the Masters in April.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

All three Grand Slam triumphs for Sinner, 23, have come on hard courts - and he is seeking to become only the sixth man in the Open era to win three consecutive majors.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2025

The sixth man, Samuel Blair, who had been carried out of the shed by the molasses wave, had ended up on the beach close to North End Park.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "sixth man" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com