non-roster
UK[nɒn ˈrɒstə]US[nɑːn ˈrɑːstər]
adj
Not included on an official list or roster, especially of players eligible to participate in a sports team's games.
Morpheme Breakdown
non
roster
non
not
roster
list
Etymology
The word is a modern English compound formed by directly combining the Latin-derived negative prefix "non-" with the noun "roster." The prefix "non-" entered English via Old French from Latin non, meaning "not," a straightforward negation. "Roster" originates from the Dutch rooster, meaning a grid or table (literally a "gridiron," from its resemblance to a cooking grill), which came to denote a list arranged in columns. The compound "non-roster" logically builds its meaning from these parts: "not on the list." It is a specialized term, most commonly used in North American professional sports, such as baseball, to designate a player who is part of an organization but not on the active, eligible list for major league games.
Analysis
Structure: non (not) + roster (list)
non: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "not." It functions as a negative or privative element.
roster: A noun of Dutch origin (from rooster, meaning "grid" or "list"), functioning as the base word meaning an official list of names.
Examples
The injured pitcher was placed on the 60-day injured list, making him a non-roster player for the remainder of the season.
Several non-roster invitees are hoping to impress the coaches during spring training and earn a spot on the team.
His contract stipulates that if he is not added to the major league roster by a certain date, he can exercise his right to become a free agent, even from a non-roster position.