second-stringer

noun

A person who plays second string. A person who is kept on a sports team as a backup in case a "first-string" player is unavailable.

Similar
substitutereserve
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Meanings

nounsecond-stringer (plural second-stringers)

plural second-stringers · alternative second stringer

  1. A person who plays second string. A person who is kept on a sports team as a backup in case a "first-string" player is unavailable.
  2. A person who is not good enough to be considered proficient but may be useful as a backup.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan athlete who plays only when a starter on the team is replaced

Similar
substitutereserve
Broader
athletejock
Also see
reservesubstitute

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From second string + -er.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

second-stringer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second-stringer

MLA

“second-stringer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second-stringer. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “second-stringer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second-stringer.

Source: second-stringer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.