second string

noun

1. Sports. the squad of players available either individually or as a team to replace or relieve those who start a game.
2. a secondary position, status, or group, as in a level of corporate management.

second string

noun

1. an alternative course of action, etc, intended to come into use should the first fail (esp in the phrase a second string to one's bow )
2. a substitute or reserve player or team

adjective

1. sport
   1. being a substitute player
   2. being the second-ranked player of a team in an individual sport
2. second-rate or inferior

Other Words From

• second-string adjective
• second-stringer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of second string¹

1635–45 in sense “backup, resort,” alluding to a second bowstring; 1860–65, applied to racehorses; 1950–55, to sports teams

Example Sentences

And even though they are playing their second string in the tournament - with star player Cole Palmer not even registered - they are blowing everyone away.

From BBC

“There’s no starters, there’s no second string, there’s no third string,” Bruener said.

From Seattle Times

Fill in intermittently for the starters or the second string during practice when they need a break.

From Seattle Times

A second string side eked out a 25-13 win over Italy in Edinburgh at the end of July, while Scotland and France traded narrow home wins in the following preparation Tests.

From BBC

Last weekend's thrilling comeback to beat the French would have been a great confidence booster for the Scots, but this France team was unrecognisable from the second string that were on show at Murrayfield.

From BBC