wildcards

Noun

wildcard (plural wildcards)

1. A character that takes the place of any other character or string that is not known or specified.
   • A wildcard character is a symbol that you can use with many DCL commands to apply the command to several files at once, rather than specifying each file individually.1968, Digital Equipment Corporation, VAX/VMS 319(5864), page 751, Section 2.1.2 Using Wildcard Characters
2. (also written wild card) An uncontrolled or unpredictable element.
   • There are several technical wildcards, such as how the larger battery packs--four times larger than those of the Prius--will withstand the rigors of city driving, […]2008 February 8, Eli Kintisch, “From Gasoline Alleys to Electric Avenues”, in Science, 319(5864), page 751
3. (also written wild card) An element, often deliberately concealed, which is withheld for contingency.
4. A letter or symbol that substitutes for a generic or poorly identified sound, for example capital C for any or some consonant, or capital V for any or some vowel.

See all 5 meanings of wildcard