benched

Benched is the past participle and an adjective derived from bench. In general use, it describes someone who is not currently active or engaged in a competition, performance, or task, and is waiting for a future opportunity to participate. The term historically stems from the bench area where substitutes wait during events.

In team sports such as football, basketball, or baseball, a benched player is not part of the starting lineup and does not play in the current game. A coach may bench a player for tactical reasons, poor form, injury, or disciplinary action. Benching can be temporary across games or longer-term, depending on circumstances.

The term is also common in gaming and professional settings. In esports and multiplayer games, benched players are rotated out and kept on standby. In business or consulting, being on the bench refers to employees who are not assigned to a project, available for redeployment, or waiting for assignment.

While often neutral, benched can carry a stigma if it implies underperformance or punitive treatment. The interpretation depends on context, duration, and the governing norms of the activity.