# redshirt

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/redshirt
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

a college sports player who sits out official games for a year to train and save a year of playing time.

For teachers: a college athlete held out of official competition for a season to extend eligibility while continuing to practise with the team. Most common in US university sports.

## Examples

- He spends this year as a redshirt and trains daily.
- The coach makes the young quarterback a redshirt so he can learn the plays without losing a year of eligibility.
- After injury cut short his first season, he returned as a redshirt sophomore with a deeper grasp of tactics and a stronger claim to a starting place.

## Usage notes

- Chiefly US college sports; often used before another noun in phrases like 'redshirt year' or 'redshirt freshman'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.