defenseman

noun

de·​fense·​man di-ˈfen(t)s-mən How to pronounce defenseman (audio)
-ˌman
: a player in a sport (such as hockey) who is assigned to a defensive zone or position

Examples of defenseman 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.
Nearly 800 games later, at age 39, the defenseman was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2017 trade deadline — just in time to join Crosby on a run to the Stanley Cup. Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 The losses of Ekblad and Kulikov in the short term — Ekblad is eligible to return in Game 3 of the playoffs, while the team hopes Kulikov will be back from his injury before the regular season ends — has allowed Jones to get playing time with the rest of Florida’s defensemen. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025 He was stationed near the left post when Devon Toews’ shot was blocked in the slot, but the defenseman backhanded the loose puck to MacKinnon for a lay-up at 12:09 of the period. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025 With the addition of Jake Walman, Edmonton addressed a major area of need with one of the best defensemen on the market. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defenseman

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defenseman was in 1877

Cite this Entry

“Defenseman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defenseman. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

defenseman

noun
de·​fense·​man -mən How to pronounce defenseman (audio)
-ˌman
: a player in a sport who is assigned to a defensive zone or position
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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