zone defense

noun

: a system of defense (as in basketball or football) in which each player guards an assigned area rather than a specified opponent

Examples of zone defense in a Sentence

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.
Dallas turned to a zone defense for a chunk of the period to help slow Antetokounmpo and Miami’s offense. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026 Where Missouri can take advantage One way for Missouri (5-2, 2-2) to ice the game early could be taking advantage of Arkansas’ third-down and red-zone defense. — Pj Green october 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026 The Mountaineers’ uptempo spread option will be the biggest challenge yet for TCU’s defense, which leads the Big 12 in scoring defense, total defense, third-down conversions allowed and red-zone defense. — Steven Johnson. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 This zone defense has been honed through years of sitting with journalists like me, answering questions like this. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zone defense

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zone defense was in 1927

Rhymes for zone defense

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Browse Nearby Words

zone axis
zone defense
zone fire
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Cite this Entry

“Zone defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zone%20defense. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on zone defense

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about zone defense

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