benchwarmer

[bench-wawr-mer] / ˈbɛntʃˌwɔr mər /

NOUN

second fiddle

Synonyms

WEAK

back seat low man on totem pole reserves second banana second string second stringer second team secondary role understudy

NOUN

utility player

Synonyms

WEAK

backup bench bench jockey jack-of-all-trades replacement second string secondary sub substitute succedaneum

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.

The greatest moment by a Dodger benchwarmer in baseball history, a guy so embedded in the landscape of Los Angeles sports that he will be forever known simply by two abbreviated versions of his name...

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2025

Plenty of players leave high-majors for low-majors, or even lower divisions, where they might go from benchwarmer to starter.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2022

Brown, the 15th overall pick in 2018, fell out of the Wizards’ rotation this season and Wagner’s role was inconsistent — going from benchwarmer to starter to benchwarmer again.

From Washington Times • Mar. 25, 2021

Stefan’s Enakopravnost: On former Penn Quaker, NBA benchwarmer, and youth sports reform advocate Bob Bigelow, who died last week at 66.

From Slate • Aug. 24, 2020

I’ll probably be a benchwarmer on the C squad while Bowdy goes on to all-state glory and fame.

From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

benchwarmer

Example Sentences

Related Words