Definition

A sidekick is a loyal friend, accomplice, or assistant who accompanies someone in their adventures or activities, and is usually considered to be of lesser importance or prominence than the main person.

Pronunciation

US English

UK English

Part of Speech

Noun.

Synonyms

assistant, companion, partner, ally, accomplice, confidant, cohort, henchman, follower.

Antonyms

adversary, antagonist, enemy.

Word Forms

Part of Speech Words
Noun sidekicks, sidekick
Verb None
Adjective None
Adverb None

Example Sentences

  • Sherlock Holmes may have been the star of the show, but his faithful sidekick Watson played an essential role in solving their cases.

  • Batman and Robin have been a famous crime-fighting duo in superhero comics for generations, with Robin serving as Batman’s sidekick.

  • Dorothy’s dog Toto was her constant sidekick throughout her journey in the Land of Oz, providing her with love and support.

  • Don Quixote’s loyal squire, Sancho Panza, served as both a comedic foil and an important sidekick, accompanying him on many of his adventures.

Usage

The word ‘sidekick’ is commonly used in everyday language to describe a friend, partner, or assistant who helps to accomplish a task or goal. The word often has a sense of loyalty and devotion to the main person. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from describing a superhero and their sidekick to referring to a friend who accompanies someone on a road trip.

The word ‘sidekick’ comes from combining the words ‘side’ and ‘kick’. The word ‘side’ refers to a position next to or alongside something, while ‘kick’ implies action or participation. The term ‘sidekick’ has been used since the early 20th century and has become widely recognized in popular culture.

The word ‘sidekick’ can also be used with various affixes and suffixes to create variations of the word. For example, adding the prefix ‘co’ to ‘sidekick’ results in ‘cosidekick’, which implies an equal partnership rather than a subordinate relationship. Another example is the variation ‘second-in-command’, which describes a person who is the deputy or assistant to someone else.

In conclusion, ‘sidekick’ is a versatile word that describes a loyal friend or assistant who accompanies someone in their activities. Its usage spans across various contexts, including literature, movies, video games, and real-life scenarios. The word derives from combining ‘side’ and ‘kick’ and can be modified with different prefixes and suffixes to create variations of the term.