team player

noun

1. a person who willingly works in cooperation with others.

Word History and Origins

Origin of team player¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

Some wondered if West Virginia could elect a Democrat who’s more amenable to being a team player, someone who would not be the sort to parlay his leverage into frustrating votes.

From Washington Post

There’s a fine line between being a team player at work and being a pain in your boss’s neck.

From Quartz

Theresa Plaisance is the ultimate team player and can also stretch the floor and rebound.

From FiveThirtyEight

He remembered Liebengood as a team player who often surprised opponents with his strength and physical talent.

From Washington Post

Others say that it depends on the internal politics at the agency as leaving it up to employees or employees’ managers could further foster power imbalances with some left to feel as if they aren’t team players unless they return to the office.

From Digiday

“Ted Cruz, Team Player” is a twist few saw coming from the freshman who has made too many enemies to count in Washington.

From The Daily Beast

The player we consider to be the “best”—and by best, the leader in individual categories or team player?

From The Daily Beast

Calls had mounted for a major sports team player to come out—an NBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB athlete.

From The Daily Beast

But make no mistake: she also was a dedicated team player who could line up behind her commander and take orders like a trooper.

From The Daily Beast

Employ humility and be a team player in situations that typically inspire diva growls.

From The Daily Beast

The second-team player fought like mad and at last, by a fierce shove, moved Petes foot.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• athlete
• competitor
• member
• opponent
• participant
• pro
• professional
• rookie

More About Team Player

What is a team player?

A team player is someone who cooperates and works well with others, as in We need everyone on our side to be a team player in this tug-of-war game if we’re going to win.

Team player began as a sports phrase describing a player on a team who works and plays well with their teammates to win competitions. To be a team player in basketball, for example, a player would need to be willing to pass the ball to teammates who are in a position to throw the ball into the net. Even though the person passing the ball doesn’t actually score, they are helping their team to score, being a good team player.

Team player is often used figuratively to describe someone working for the benefit of everyone involved. For example, an employee who voluntarily helps a new coworker learn the company’s software might be called a team player. The employee is taking time away from their work to help someone else get started in their own work. The effort might not get the employee’s tasks done, but it will help the company as a whole get its tasks done.

In politics, when someone is referred to as a team player, it often means they are willing to work with politicians from parties other than their own to support the people they represent. 

Example: We need someone who will be a team player, listening to what each member of the organization has to say.

Where does team player come from?

The first records of the term team player come from around the 1880s. It’s an Americanism that combines the terms team and player.

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with team player? 

• team
• player
• team spirit
• teammate 

What are some words that often get used in discussing team player?

• collaboration
• cooperation
• complementary
• goals
• helpful

How is team player used in real life?

Team player can be used to describe anyone who works in cooperation with others, whether they’re on a formal team or not.

At the end of the Seahawks-49ers game, Seattle ran a jet sweep touch pass to WR David Moore when they could have just taken a knee to run the clock.

As it turns out, Moore needed just one more catch to reach a receptions incentive. Likely was Seattle rewarding a team player.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 4, 2021

6-year-old: I can help out by finishing off the ice cream.

Me: How does that help?

6: Then we can buy more ice cream.

Team player.

— James Breakwell, Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) August 27, 2020

Maybe Antonio Brown saw that Hard Knocks episode 1 wasn’t very entertaining and wanted to be a team player and save us from more awkward Derek Carr moments?

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 9, 2019

 

Try using team player!

Is team player used correctly in the following sentence?

“The senator’s staff are team players who will work with the staff of senators from other political parties in order to pass laws that help everyone.”