benchwarmer

or bench warm·er, bench-warm·er

[ bench-wawr-mer ]

noun

, Sports.

1. a substitute who rarely gets to play in a game.

Word History and Origins

Origin of benchwarmer¹

First recorded in 1890–95; bench + warmer ( def )

Example Sentences

It is this admiration from teammates that has elevated Moss from an anonymous benchwarmer to the most important person on this team.

From Los Angeles Times

The author, singling out Little, argued that being an occasional swing vote meant Little was a benchwarmer who lacked the courage “to take the new culture war by the horns.”

From Slate

Nine years later, he had helped lead the Dodgers to eight division championships and three World Series appearances while evolving from benchwarmer to legend with his accessibility, inclusivity and homespun charm.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Seattle Times

Card, whose Texas career pinballed from starter to benchwarmer only to see Sarkisian court another hotshot like Ewers, opted to stay even though he is more than a year away from graduation.

From Seattle Times