disabled list: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, Technical (Sports)
Quick answer
What does “disabled list” mean?
An official roster in professional sports (especially baseball) of players who are injured or ill and temporarily ineligible to play.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An official roster in professional sports (especially baseball) of players who are injured or ill and temporarily ineligible to play.
By extension, any list of people or things temporarily unavailable or out of service, often used metaphorically in business or informal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, originating from and being standard in US/Canadian baseball. In British English, the equivalent sports concept is often referred to as the 'injured list' or simply 'injured players', but the formal 'disabled list' is not used.
Connotations
In American English, it carries neutral sports-administrative connotations. In British English, if encountered, it might be misunderstood due to the primary British meaning of 'disabled' relating to disability, not temporary injury.
Frequency
Very high frequency in American sports journalism and fan discourse; very low to zero in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “disabled list” in a Sentence
[Team/Player] placed [Player] on the disabled list.[Player] went on the disabled list with a [injury].[Player] was activated from the disabled list.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disabled list” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The club listed him as injured. (No direct equivalent verb use for 'disabled list')
American English
- The Yankees disabled their shortstop yesterday. (Back-formation verb 'to disable' in sports context)
adjective
British English
- The injured player... (No adjectival use of 'disabled list')
American English
- He's a disabled-list player for the next two months. (Compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically: 'Our lead developer is on the disabled list with the flu, so the project is delayed.'
Academic
Rare, except in sports management or sociology of sport studies.
Everyday
Primarily in sports discussions among fans. 'Did you hear? Their star pitcher is on the 60-day disabled list.'
Technical
Precise administrative term in Major League Baseball and other North American professional sports leagues, with specific rules for placement and activation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “disabled list”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “disabled list”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disabled list”
- Using it to refer to people with disabilities (a serious error).
- Assuming it is a general synonym for 'unavailable'.
- Using it in formal British contexts where it is unfamiliar.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in its primary and standard meaning. It is a specific sports term for temporarily injured players. Using it to refer to people with disabilities would be incorrect and offensive.
No, it is an Americanism. British sports journalism uses terms like 'injured list' or simply refers to 'injured players'.
In American sports jargon, yes. The back-formation 'to disable (a player)' means to place them on the disabled list. This usage is not common outside this context.
In baseball, these designate the minimum number of days a player must spend on the list before being eligible to return, corresponding to the severity of the injury. The 60-day list also frees up a spot on the team's 40-man roster.
An official roster in professional sports (especially baseball) of players who are injured or ill and temporarily ineligible to play.
Disabled list is usually informal, technical (sports) in register.
Disabled list: in British English it is pronounced /dɪsˈeɪbld lɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪsˈeɪbəld lɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the shelf (similar metaphorical sense)”
- “Riding the pine (for non-participation, but not specifically injured)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a sports team's 'active list' of players. The DISABLED LIST is like that list's opposite—for players whose abilities are temporarily dis-abled.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPORTS TEAM MANAGEMENT IS HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION (players are 'patients' placed on a formal medical list).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'disabled list' MOST appropriate and standard?