wide receiver

American  

noun

Football.

• wide receivers
  plural

1. an offensive player positioned wide of the formation, as a split end, used primarily as a pass receiver.

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wide receiver British  

noun

1. American football a player whose function is to catch long passes from the quarterback

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wide receivers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of wide receiver

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wide receiver

While we’re talking about pivotal moments in personal histories, nine years ago Deanté Gray was a rookie wide receiver for the Houston Texans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the star wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, has played there since 2023, benefiting from the state’s lack of income tax.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Haydn Parry: It will be interesting to see how wide receiver Carnell Tate, fourth overall pick by Tennessee, adapts among the big boys.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Perhaps his biggest feat — and one that wasn’t called back — came when he threw out of the end zone and connected with wide receiver Quentin Hale.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Just like back when you and Clancy pretended to be in the Super Bowl, him the quarterback and you the wide receiver.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds