stand-in
Americannoun
-
a substitute for a motion-picture star during the preparation of lighting, cameras, etc., or in dangerous scenes.
-
any substitute.
verb
-
to act as a substitute
-
to be of benefit or advantage to someone
noun
-
-
a person or thing that serves as a substitute
-
( as modifier )
a stand-in teacher
-
-
a person who substitutes for an actor during intervals of waiting or in dangerous stunts
Etymology
Origin of stand-in
First recorded in 1930–35; noun use of verb phrase stand in
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.
She's hosted breakfast shows before - between 2000 and 2003 she was the host of Radio 1's breakfast show and since 2012 has been one of the stand-in presenters for Radio 2's show.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Their stand-in renditions spared livestock and human attendants from sacrifice.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
Brendon has an identical twin brother named Kelly Donovan, who appeared as his stand-in and double in episodes of “Buffy.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026
Baseball is an easy stand-in for America, and vice versa.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
I used Laika as my stand-in for Julia.
From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith
![]()
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.