sidepiece: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+Informal, Slang, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “sidepiece” mean?
A person with whom one is having a romantic or sexual relationship outside of a committed partnership, often secretively.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person with whom one is having a romantic or sexual relationship outside of a committed partnership, often secretively.
Less commonly, can refer to any secondary, auxiliary, or less important item or component that is supplementary to a main one.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily found in American English, stemming from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). It is less established in mainstream British English, though understood in context due to global media.
Connotations
In both varieties, it has negative connotations of deceit and disrespect towards the primary partner when referring to a person.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, especially in youth culture, hip-hop, and online discourse. Very low frequency in formal UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “sidepiece” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/keeps a sidepieceShe found out he was her husband's sidepieceHe spends all his money on his sidepieceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sidepiece” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's been sidepiecing for years without his wife knowing. (rare, derived)
American English
- I heard he's sidepiecing with someone from his gym. (rare, derived)
adjective
British English
- She ended up in a sidepiece situation. (rare, attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable. Use would be highly unprofessional.
Academic
Not applicable, except as a subject of study in sociolinguistics or cultural studies.
Everyday
Used in informal conversations about relationships, often gossip. Highly context-dependent.
Technical
Rarely used to denote an auxiliary mechanical part or a piece of a larger assembly.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sidepiece”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Applying it to a legitimate, open secondary relationship (e.g., polyamory).
- Misspelling as 'side piece' (two words; though common, the closed form is standard for the slang).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can refer to a person of any gender, though traditionally it has been used more often to refer to a woman.
Very rarely. Its primary and almost exclusive modern meaning is within the context of secret romantic/sexual relationships.
No, it is informal slang and can be considered disrespectful or vulgar, especially to the person being labelled as such.
Both imply infidelity. 'Mistress' is older, more established, and often implies a longer-term, possibly financially supported arrangement. 'Sidepiece' is modern slang, often implying a more casual or purely sexual secret partner and carries a stronger connotation of being secondary and less valued.
A person with whom one is having a romantic or sexual relationship outside of a committed partnership, often secretively.
Sidepiece is usually informal, slang, colloquial in register.
Sidepiece: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌɪdpiːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪdˌpis/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “playing second fiddle (conceptually related)”
- “on the side”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A piece (person) kept on the SIDE of your main relationship.' The word literally breaks down into its meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS ARE CONSTRUCTIONS/OBJECTS (with a 'main piece' and a 'side piece').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'sidepiece' be MOST appropriately used?