sidelined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sidelined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that has been set aside or excluded from participation or consideration, often in a negative context. Example: "After the scandal, the politician was sidelined from the campaign and no longer appeared at public events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Changes to unemployment benefits AKA "earn or learn" – blocked and sidelined Unemployed people under 30 would only be able to claim Newstart or Youth Allowance for six months of the year, and would have to take part in 25 hours a week of work-for-the dole programs if not studying or training.

The Guardian

Athens confirmed on Monday that its finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, will represent Greece at those talks after reports last week that the outspoken economist had been sidelined when Greece's negotiating team was reshuffled.

The Guardian - Business

In this period of transition, Plaid Cymru will speak up for Wales and ensure that we are not sidelined.

The Guardian - Opinion

While economic issues have dominated debate since then, the so-called "values voters" have sometimes felt sidelined.

The Guardian

Pundits proclaiming that Welsh is a dead language often grew up before Welsh was re-embraced, and the language was so sidelined that Plaid Cymru MP Gwynfor Evans threatened to go on hunger strike unless a Welsh-language channel was provided.

The Guardian - Opinion

Filipe, courted by Barcelona in the summer but priced out of a move to the league champions by the Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro, gave the Galicians the lead in acrobatic style, but fell awkwardly and suffered a nasty twist to the ankle that left him in excruciating pain and will leave him sidelined for several months at least.

The Guardian - Sport

One A&E consultant described paediatric psychiatry as a Cinderella speciality – sidelined and under-resourced.

The Guardian - Opinion

Voices for Women, like all the best contemporary political movements, is most visible in the form of a Facebook page, which sets out the problems that called it into existence as "fewer women MPs, fewer women in cabinet, a budget which penalises women much more than men, a sense that women are being ignored and sidelined".

The Guardian

David Cameron appears to have sidelined his home secretary, Theresa May, by appointing Oliver Letwin to run the Whitehall home affairs committee and taking personal control of taskforces relating to immigration and extremism.

The Guardian

He is sidelined with a back injury and this week Madrid denied a newspaper report that the Wales international had suffered a slipped disc and required surgery.

The Guardian - Sport

The Greek finance minister has denied that he has been sidelined from talks with Greece's creditors on Tuesday as he resumed outspoken attacks on the country's eurozone partners.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sidelined", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the exclusion is temporary or permanent. This helps avoid ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "sidelined" when a more neutral term like "replaced" is appropriate. "Sidelined" often carries a negative connotation of being unfairly excluded or demoted.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sidelined" is as a verb, often in its past participle form. As evidenced by Ludwig, it commonly appears in passive constructions, indicating someone or something being subjected to the action of being excluded or set aside.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sidelined" functions primarily as a verb describing exclusion from activity, often with a negative connotation. As confirmed by Ludwig, this term is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news and media, formal business contexts, and sports reporting. When writing, be aware that "sidelined" implies removal from something important, and choose a neutral term if that is not the intention. Consider alternatives such as "excluded" or "marginalized", and use this term according to guidance to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Excluded

Implies being kept out, often intentionally, from a group or activity.

Marginalized

Suggests being pushed to the edge or treated as less important.

Benched

Specifically refers to being taken out of a game or competition, similar to its sports-related usage.

Suspended

Indicates a temporary removal, often as a disciplinary measure.

Ousted

Implies being forcefully removed from a position of power.

Replaced

Suggests being substituted by someone or something else.

Bypassed

Indicates being skipped over or ignored.

Disregarded

Implies being ignored or not taken seriously.

Disqualified

Indicates being deemed ineligible or unfit.

Eliminated

Suggests being completely removed or taken out of contention.

FAQs

How is "sidelined" typically used in a sentence?

The word "sidelined" is usually used as a verb, often in the passive voice, to describe someone or something being excluded or removed from activity. For example, "The project was "sidelined" due to budget cuts."

What are some alternatives to "sidelined"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "sidelined" include "excluded", "marginalized", "benched" (especially in sports contexts), or "disregarded".

In what contexts is "sidelined" most commonly used?

"Sidelined" is frequently encountered in news and media, particularly when discussing politics, business, or sports. It's also used in formal and business communications to describe projects or initiatives that have been put on hold or abandoned.

Is there a difference between "sidelined" and "marginalized"?

While both terms imply being excluded, "sidelined" often suggests a temporary or situational exclusion, whereas "marginalized" implies a more systematic and long-term reduction in importance or influence.