second fiddle

noun

: one that plays a supporting or subservient role

Examples of second fiddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ethereum plays second fiddle to bitcoin and is lagging it. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 This marks an absolutely pivotal moment for the 20-year-old launch company, which has gone from the titan of the US launch industry to playing a distant second fiddle to its one-time upstart competitor SpaceX. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick played second fiddle to the team’s defenses. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 No equal business partner has ever played second fiddle better than Charlie Munger. Jason Zweig, WSJ, 28 Nov. 2023 First its electric vehicle manufacturers dominated media coverage of Munich’s biennial IAA auto show, relegating Europe’s carmakers to second fiddle on their own home turf for the very first time. Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2023 Suddenly, the team accustomed to playing second fiddle in its own city had the richest owner in town. Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 26 Dec. 2023 Rudolph was created at the behest of Montgomery Ward, a department store that had a national footprint but played second fiddle in its hometown to Sears. Vince Guerrieri, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023 But even this richly atmospheric setting played second fiddle (so to speak) to the clothes. Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second fiddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of second fiddle was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near second fiddle

Cite this Entry

“Second fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20fiddle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

second fiddle

noun
: a person who fills a secondary role

More from Merriam-Webster on second fiddle

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