sidebar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal in media/law; informal in computing/web design.
Quick answer
What does “sidebar” mean?
A short, separate section of text or a panel, usually set to the side of the main content, providing supplementary information or navigation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short, separate section of text or a panel, usually set to the side of the main content, providing supplementary information or navigation.
Can refer to a private conversation with a judge during a trial, a secondary blog column, a brief news story accompanying a major article, or a small drink served alongside a main drink.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'sidebar' for web design, journalism, and law. The specific layout conventions in publishing may vary slightly.
Connotations
In UK legal contexts, the judge's 'sidebar' (private discussion) is often called a 'conference with counsel' or simply 'at the bench'.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English due to higher prevalence in legal drama TV/film. Equally common in tech/web contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sidebar” in a Sentence
in the sidebarwith a sidebaradd a sidebarinclude a sidebar aboutVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sidebar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The judge will sidebar the attorneys before ruling.
American English
- The defense requested to sidebar after the objection.
adjective
British English
- The sidebar discussion was off the record.
- It was a sidebar agreement.
American English
- We need a sidebar chat about this.
- The sidebar menu needs updating.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a supplementary panel on a corporate website or report, e.g., 'Key figures are listed in the sidebar.'
Academic
Used in publishing for supplementary information boxes in textbooks or journals.
Everyday
Commonly understood in the context of websites, blogs, or news articles.
Technical
A key UI/UX term in web design and graphic layout software.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sidebar”
- Using 'sidebar' to mean a minor topic in a conversation (use 'aside' or 'tangent'). Confusing it with 'header' or 'footer'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single, closed compound word: 'sidebar'.
Yes, primarily in American legal jargon, meaning to have a private discussion with the judge, e.g., 'The attorneys sidebarred with the judge.'
A sidebar is typically a vertical column on the side of a page, while a footer is a horizontal section at the bottom.
The term is understood but less common. UK courts more often use phrases like 'at the bench' or 'a discussion in chambers'.
A short, separate section of text or a panel, usually set to the side of the main content, providing supplementary information or navigation.
Sidebar is usually neutral to formal in media/law; informal in computing/web design. in register.
Sidebar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd.bɑː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd.bɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take it to the sidebar.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAR at the SIDE of a webpage or document, holding extra information.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A CONTAINER (the sidebar holds/contains supplementary data).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sidebar' LEAST likely to be used?