injured list
LowSpecialized / Sports Terminology
Definition
Meaning
An official roster of athletes in a professional sports team who are currently unable to play due to injury.
A formal administrative status designating a player as medically unfit to compete, requiring their temporary replacement on the active team roster. Used almost exclusively in professional team sports, especially baseball, basketball, hockey, and American football.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound noun with a specific institutional meaning. It's not used for casual descriptions of injured people. It implies a formal administrative action taken by a team or league.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Predominantly an American term. In British English, the concept is more commonly expressed by phrases like 'sidelined with injury' or using the term from the specific sport, e.g., 'on the injury list' (football/soccer). The official term in many British sports is often simply 'injury list' without the '-ed'.
Connotations
In American sports, it has a clear, official, procedural connotation. In British contexts, it might sound like an Americanism or be understood only by fans of American sports.
Frequency
Very high frequency in American sports journalism and commentary. Low frequency in general British English, except when discussing North American sports.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Player/Team] placed [Player] on the injured list.The [Team] activated [Player] from the injured list.[Player] is on the injured list (with a [injury]).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's on the shelf (informal, similar meaning).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in sports medicine or sports management studies.
Everyday
Limited to conversations about professional sports.
Technical
Core term in professional sports team administration and sports journalism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The club did not list him as injured for the derby match.
- They are likely to list the goalkeeper due to a shoulder problem.
American English
- The Yankees decided to list the pitcher after his elbow flare-up.
- The league requires teams to formally list any player missing more than a week.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb form.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The injured-list striker is aiming for a November return.
- They have several injured-list players in recovery.
American English
- The injured-list designation freed up a roster spot.
- He's in an injured-list status until further evaluation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The football player is not playing. He is on the injured list.
- Their best scorer is on the injured list with a knee problem, so the team is weaker.
- After the scan confirmed a torn ligament, the management had no choice but to place him on the 60-day injured list.
- The team's depth is being tested with three starting pitchers concurrently on the injured list, compelling them to call up prospects sooner than anticipated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a team's 'TO-DO' list. The 'INJURED LIST' is their 'CAN'T-DO' list of players.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TEAM IS A MACHINE (injured parts are listed for repair/replacement). STATUS IS LOCATION (being 'on' the list is a specific state/place).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'повреждённый список' which is nonsense. Use спортивный контекст: 'в списке травмированных', 'не играет из-за травмы', or the administrative term from the specific sport (e.g., 'в лазарете' for football - informal).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for non-athletes (e.g., 'My colleague is on the injured list'). Confusing it with a simple list of injuries (e.g., 'The hospital has an injured list'). Using 'injure list' (missing the -ed).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'injured list' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not commonly as an official term. British football more often uses 'injured' or 'sidelined' descriptively, or specific league terminology like 'not in the squad due to injury'. 'Injured list' is understood but marked as an Americanism.
'Disabled List' (DL) was the long-standing official term in Major League Baseball for the injured list. It was renamed to 'Injured List' in 2019 to use more inclusive language. 'Disabled list' is now largely historical in this context.
No, it is an administrative action requiring a verifiable medical injury. Fraudulently placing a healthy player on the list would violate league rules and could lead to severe penalties for the team.
Typically, yes. Players on the injured list usually receive their full salary as per their contract. The list is an administrative tool for roster management, not a suspension of pay, though specific rules vary by league and contract.