wide receiver

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wide receiver" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of American football to refer to a player whose primary role is to catch passes from the quarterback. Example: "The team's wide receiver made an incredible catch in the end zone, securing the victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

At wide receiver.

The New York Times - Sports

WIDE RECEIVER: You rehearsed?

The New Yorker

Philadelphia has signed wide receiver David Ball.

The New York Times - Sports

San Diego wide receiver Danario Alexander.

The New York Times - Sports

He's your 28th-ranked wide receiver.

The New York Times

Another wide receiver would help, too.

The New York Times

They played a cornerback at wide receiver.

The New York Times - Sports

A speedy, field-stretching wide receiver?

The New York Times

So on offense I played wide receiver.

The New York Times

"I'm a wide receiver," Holmes said.

The New York Times - Sports

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups Favorable.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a specific player, use "wide receiver" followed by the player's name or team for clarity, such as "wide receiver Davante Adams".

Common error

Avoid using "wide receiver" as a general term for any player who catches the ball. It specifically refers to a designated position in football.

Linguistic Context

Wide receiver functions primarily as a noun, identifying a specific position in American football. It designates a player whose main role is to catch passes, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig, such as "Philadelphia has signed "wide receiver" David Ball."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wide receiver" correctly refers to a specific position in American football, denoting a player whose main role is to catch passes. According to Ludwig, its usage is grammatically sound and quite common, particularly in news and media contexts. When writing about "wide receivers", it's beneficial to be specific by mentioning the player's name or team. While generally used in neutral contexts, it's essential to avoid using the term generically for any player who catches the ball.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass catcher

Focuses on the action of catching passes, a key function of a wide receiver.

receiving target

Emphasizes the role of the player as a target for passes.

offensive receiver

Highlights the offensive role of the player.

flanker

Refers to a specific wide receiver position, typically lined up on the line of scrimmage.

split end

Denotes a wide receiver who lines up on the line of scrimmage, split wide from the formation.

slot receiver

Describes a receiver who lines up in the slot, between the offensive tackle and the wide receiver.

primary receiver

Indicates the main receiving threat on the team.

deep threat

Describes a receiver known for catching long passes.

possession receiver

Refers to a receiver who specializes in catching short, reliable passes.

wideout

An informal, shortened version of "wide receiver".

FAQs

How is "wide receiver" used in a sentence?

The term "wide receiver" is used to describe a football player whose primary job is to catch passes. For example, "The team's star "wide receiver" made an incredible catch."

What are some alternative terms for "wide receiver"?

You can use terms like "pass catcher", "receiving target", or "offensive receiver" depending on the context.

What is the role of a "wide receiver" in football?

The role of a "wide receiver" is primarily to catch passes from the quarterback, but they also block and run routes to create opportunities for the offense.

Is it correct to use "wide receiver" to describe players in other sports?

The term "wide receiver" is specific to American football. While other sports have players who catch passes, they are referred to by different names, such as midfielders in soccer or "wingers" in hockey.