View synonyms for

defender

[ dih-fen-der ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who defends someone or something from attack, assault, or injury:
We commemorate the brave defenders of this fort.
Law. an attorney for a defendant, especially a public defender:
the systemwide benefits of effective defenders.
a person who supports an argument, theory, thesis, etc., in the face of criticism or challenging questions:
defenders of gay rights.
Sports.
1. a team player whose assigned role is to prevent the other team from scoring:
  On the court, he’s an exceptional defender and a natural leader.
2. a contestant or team that attempts to retain a championship title, rank, etc., in a competition against a challenger:
  Her main rival is the young title defender from Italy.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of defender¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; defend ( def ) + -er ²( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"The chance of a trophy is massive, regardless of anything else that is going on," former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha argues.

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That quarterback, along with superb running back Saquon Barkley, forced opponents to commit an extra defender to stop the run, therefore making themselves more vulnerable to the pass.

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Former England defender Asante said player welfare has been considered in "every aspect" regarding the format of the tournament.

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The defender felt his own club were late with their offer and opted to take a different path in his career.

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The central defender looks likely to become one of the hottest properties of the summer with a number of clubs in Europe also interested in the 20-year-old.

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Related Words

defendant defender of the bond

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