Sidebar Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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sidebar

[ˈsaɪdˌbɑːr ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

website layout

A sidebar is a vertical column on a website layout that usually contains additional information, links, or navigation options.

Synonyms

side column, side menu, side panel.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sidebar	Commonly used in websites and applications to refer to a vertical bar on the side of the screen that provides additional information or navigation options. Typically used in a more general sense to include various functionalities. The website's sidebar contains links to the most popular articles. He always keeps the chat window open in the sidebar for quick access.
side panel	Refers to a side section of a user interface in software or apps that contains tools, settings, or additional information. Often adjustable or collapsible. Adjust the settings from the side panel. The side panel shows all currently open tasks.
side menu	Specifically refers to a menu located on the side of a screen in websites or apps, used for navigation purposes. Often found in mobile apps and responsive web designs. Tap the icon to open the side menu and access more options. The side menu contains all the categories of the online store.
side column	Usually used in the context of printed media, websites, or documents to indicate a narrow vertical section parallel to the main content area. Often used to display supplementary information. The side column of the newspaper has interesting factoids. Please check the side column for additional notes.

Examples of usage

The sidebar of the website displays recent posts and popular categories.
You can find the search bar in the sidebar of the homepage.
The sidebar menu provides quick access to different sections of the website.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

conversation

A sidebar is a discussion or topic that is tangential to the main focus of the conversation.

Synonyms

aside, digression, off-topic discussion.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sidebar	Typically used in legal contexts, news articles, or professional settings to refer to secondary information or a minor discussion related to the main topic. The lawyer asked for a sidebar with the judge. The article included a sidebar with additional statistics.
digression	A formal term used mainly in writing and academic contexts to describe a temporary shift away from the main subject, often seen as a negative interruption. The professor's digression confused the students. Her speech included a lengthy digression that was not relevant.
aside	Used in both written and spoken language to indicate a temporary departure from the main topic, often for a brief comment or extra information. Aside from the main topic, let me mention an interesting fact. He made an aside about the weather during his speech.
off-topic discussion	Commonly used in informal settings like meetings or online forums to refer to conversations that stray from the main topic. We had an off-topic discussion about the latest movie during the meeting. The moderator asked everyone to avoid off-topic discussions in the forum.

Examples of usage

While discussing the project, they went on a sidebar about upcoming events.
Let's save this topic for later and address it as a sidebar in our next meeting.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'sidebar'

The term 'sidebar' originated in the newspaper industry, where it referred to a narrow column or block of text alongside the main article. Over time, it has been adopted in various contexts, including web design and casual conversations, to denote additional information or a side topic. The use of sidebars in websites became popular for providing easy access to secondary content without cluttering the main page. In conversations, bringing up a sidebar topic is a way to explore related but not central ideas.