expansion team

American

noun

Sports.

a new team in a league, composed largely of players from established league teams and formed when the league expands its membership.

Etymology

Origin of expansion team

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Kings’ owner, Vivek Ranadivé, would like MLB to consider Sacramento for an expansion team.

From Los Angeles Times

After joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1976, the Seahawks didn’t make it to the big game until Super Bowl XL following the 2005 season.

From Los Angeles Times

Martino coached Atlanta when they joined MLS as an expansion team in 2017 and directed the squad to the league crown only a season later.

From Barron's

It is no secret the Mariners, who began play as an expansion team in 1977, have at times seemed cursed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dombrowski took the Marlins from an expansion team to champions in the franchise’s fifth season of existence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023