What is a wildcard?

[leatherworks1340]

what is a wildcard

[SueShe]

The dictionary defines a wild card as:

1. A playing card that can have any value, suit, color, or other property in a game at the discretion of the player holding it.

In computing:
2. A character that will match any character or sequence of characters in a search.
an opportunity to enter a sports competition without having to take part in qualifying matches or be ranked at a particular level or

A player or team allowed to enter a sports competition without having to qualify or be ranked.

3. A person or thing whose influence is unpredictable or whose qualities are uncertain.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It’s an aspect of a game made to add a new, presumably more exciting element to it

[OhLongJohnsoning]

Something that shouldn't be there, that is

So, in baseball, or even other sports, they have three divisions per league, east, central and west. you have a division leader/winner of each of those, in the two leagues (American, national). And then, they used to have just ONE wildcard team, which is usually the best 2nd place team. However, now they've added two more wildcard teams, because they're trying to make more money, off of more drama

[Iron_Man]

The NFL wildcard game, the last playoff spot available

[Nikki1989]

Something contrarian or unexpected.

[abc3643]

*

^^^ That's a wildcard.

[paledreams]

An unexpected occurrence?

[In_Trance]

It's usually the Joker