linesman

noun

lines·​man ˈlīnz-mən How to pronounce linesman (audio)
1
2
: an official who assists a referee (as in football, tennis, or hockey) especially in determining if a ball, puck, or player is out-of-bounds or offside

Examples of linesman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Leading the Mizzou sideline chain gang, Rich Montgomery was authorized to advance the down marker only at the signal of the linesman. Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026 Tempers flared in the third, with Parker Kelly getting into a scuffle with Matt Boldy and hitting the linesman with his glove. CBS News, 6 May 2026 In the 115th minute, Rafael Navarro flicked on an inch-perfect header to Georgi Minoungou, who in real time looked offside but didn’t warrant a call from the linesman. Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026 My first-ever job was being a linesman for a men’s under-50 soccer league. Dianna Russini, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for linesman

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of linesman was in 1883

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Cite this Entry

“Linesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linesman. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

linesman

noun
lines·​man ˈlīnz-mən How to pronounce linesman (audio)
: an official who assists a referee in a game (as football or hockey)
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