defender

noun

de·​fend·​er di-ˈfen-dər How to pronounce defender (audio)
Synonyms of defendernext
1
: one that defends
2
: a player in a sport (such as football) assigned to a defensive position

Synonyms of defender

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Examples of defender in a Sentence

one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
De Goede scored her second bounding over a ruck, prop DaLeaka Menin scored in a lineout drive, and fullback Savannah Bauder stepped two defenders in a 55-meter solo try to make it 31-17. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Purely as a run defender, PFF rates Robinson 97th among 115 NFL edge rushers. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 Still, crowds remain thin; Al-Ittihad’s English defender Ashleigh Plumptre has been organizing school trips to the games. — semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 But even a successful exploit offers further opportunities for defenders to intervene. — Harry Booth, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defender

Word History

Etymology

Middle English defendour, defender, borrowed from Anglo-French defendour, defendur, from defend-, stem of defendre "to defend" + -our, -ur -or entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of defender was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing defender

Rhymes for defender

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Browse Nearby Words

defendant
defender
defender office
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Cite this Entry

“Defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defender. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

defender

noun
de·​fend·​er -ˈfen-dər How to pronounce defender (audio)
1
: one that defends
2
: a player in a sport (as football) who plays a defensive position

Legal Definition

defender

noun
de·​fend·​er
: a lawyer who represents defendants
especially : public defender
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