# wild card

**Pronunciation:** /ˈwaɪld kɑrd/ · WILD-kard

**CEFR level:** B2

**Part of speech:** noun phrase

## Meaning

A person or thing that is unpredictable or has an uncertain effect, often in a competition or situation.

## Examples

- The team's wild card player scored the winning goal in the final game.
- She was a wild card in the election, and her victory surprised everyone.
- The company's new product was a wild card, and it was unclear how it would be received by the market.

## Synonyms

- a person or thing that is unpredictable or uncertain
- a person or thing that is unexpected or surprising
- a factor that can change or affect something
- a factor that is uncertain or unpredictable
- a mysterious or intangible factor that can affect something

## Antonyms

- a person or thing that is certain or predictable
- a person or thing that is predictable or certain

## Common patterns

- play a wild card — to introduce an unpredictable or unexpected element into a situation — The company played a wild card by introducing a new product line.
- be a wild card — to be unpredictable or unexpected — The new employee was a wild card, and it was unclear how she would perform.

## Collocations

- wild card entry — The team's wild card entry into the tournament was a surprise to many fans.
- wild card player — The wild card player scored the winning goal in the final game.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/wild%20card

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