defenseman
noun
de·fense·man
di-ˈfen(t)s-mən 
-ˌman
: a player in a sport (such as hockey) who is assigned to a defensive zone or position
Examples of defenseman in a Sentence
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The score remained the same after the second period before Toronto (27-23-9) broke up Bobrovsky’s shutout bid on a John Tavares power-play goal 47 seconds into the third period on a shot that bounced off Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling and into the Panthers’ net.
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Schaefer has 18 goals to surpass Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in team history.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
With the sides playing 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Canadian defenseman Claire Thompson.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Dallas’ top priorities at the deadline will be adding a top-four, right-shot defenseman and a top-six forward to replace Seguin’s production.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Schaefer has 18 goals to surpass Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in team history.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
With the sides playing 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Canadian defenseman Claire Thompson.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Dallas’ top priorities at the deadline will be adding a top-four, right-shot defenseman and a top-six forward to replace Seguin’s production.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defenseman
Cite this Entry
“Defenseman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defenseman. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defenseman
noun
de·fense·man
-mən
-ˌman
: a player in a sport who is assigned to a defensive zone or position
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