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Onside: meaning, definitions and examples

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onside

 

[ ˈɒn.saɪd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

sports terminology

In sports, particularly in football (soccer), 'onside' refers to a player being in a position to play the ball legally. This means that the player is not in an offside position at the moment the ball is played to them. The concept is crucial during a game, as being onsides allows a player to participate in the play without penalty. Understanding whether a player is onsides can greatly affect the outcome of a match.

Synonyms

legal, permitted

Examples of usage

  • The striker was clearly onsides when the pass was made.
  • The referee signaled that the player was onsides.
  • It was a tight call, but the goal counted because the player was onsides.

Translations

Translations of the word "onside" in other languages:

🇵🇹 em jogo

🇮🇳 खेल में

🇩🇪 im Spiel

🇮🇩 dalam permainan

🇺🇦 в грі

🇵🇱 w grze

🇯🇵 オンサイド

🇫🇷 en jeu

🇪🇸 en juego

🇹🇷 oyunda

🇰🇷 경기 중

🇸🇦 في اللعبة

🇨🇿 ve hře

🇸🇰 v hre

🇨🇳 在比赛中

🇸🇮 v igri

🇮🇸 í leiknum

🇰🇿 ойында

🇬🇪 თამაშში

🇦🇿 oyunda

🇲🇽 en juego

Word origin

The term 'onside' originates from the game of football, deriving from the older concept of being 'on side' as opposed to 'off side'. The offside rule was established to ensure fair play and to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning themselves nearer to the opponent's goal than the second-last defender. The usage of 'onside' became prominent in the 19th century as the rules of football began to formalize. It has since evolved with the game's strategies and officiating standards, leading to its current interpretation in various forms of football. The terminology has also permeated other sports contexts, maintaining the same fundamental idea of being in a position that is compliant with the rules of play.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,809, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.