Meaning & use
wild card
An unpredictable person, event, or factor that could significantly affect an outcome.
See it in a sentence
The rookie player was a wild card who could either win or lose the match for his team.
Economic policy remains a wild card that could upset the company's growth plans next year.
A note on using this word
In sports, a wild card also names a competitor admitted to a tournament without qualifying through the usual standings.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A place in a sports competition awarded to a team or player who did not qualify through normal results.
The tennis player entered the tournament on a wild card after missing the qualifying cutoff.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wild card”, then compare your use with the examples above.