# wildcard

/ˈwaɪɫdˌkɑɹd/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wildcard
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a person or thing that is unpredictable and could change the result of a situation. In computing, it is a symbol like * that can represent any character.

For teachers: an unpredictable factor or person whose influence on a situation is difficult to estimate. In computing, refers to a character that can be substituted for any other character or sequence of characters in a search.

## Examples

- The new player is a wildcard who could win the game for us.
- The weather remains the ultimate wildcard for the outdoor festival, as a sudden storm could force a total cancellation.
- In the final weeks of the campaign, the third-party candidate emerged as a wildcard, potentially siphoning enough votes from the frontrunner to swing the entire election.

## Usage notes

- Often used metaphorically in sports and politics to describe unpredictable participants.

---

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.