defender

noun

de·​fend·​er di-ˈfen-dər 

1

: one that defends

2

: a player in a sport (such as football) assigned to a defensive position

Synonyms of defender

• guardian
• custodian
• protector
• protection
• bodyguard

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

The defender made a great play, but Manning made a bad throw. — Mac Engel october 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026

As became a theme Saturday afternoon, though, someone was streaking across the middle of the field 2 yards beyond his defender. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026

The athletic defender has been tremendous in stopping the run and pressuring the QB this season. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026

That kind of performance — along with Jones making plays — represents a return to normalcy for fellow Broncos defenders. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing defender

• public defender

Rhymes for defender

• bartender
• contender
• engender
• extender
• offender
• pretender
• provender
• surrender
• suspender
• transgender
• bender
• blender

Kids Definition

defender

noun

de·​fend·​er -ˈfen-dər 

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