wildcard

noun

Meaning

In card games, a card that can be assigned any value or used to substitute for any needed card.
A competitor or team that is allowed to compete in a tournament despite not reaching the normal standards to qualify for inclusion.
A character that substitutes for other characters in regular expressions and globbing
A character that takes the place of any other character or string that is not known or specified.
(also written wild card) An uncontrolled or unpredictable element.
(also written wild card) An element, often deliberately concealed, which is withheld for contingency.

No prose etymology has been added yet.

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