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.
That work is done now, said Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, who had one assist Friday and leads the team with six. Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Hughes became the first defenseman to score an overtime goal in a knockout game at an Olympics with NHL players. Michael Russo, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026 The Panthers’ star defenseman is one of the few Panthers with a goal in the Olympics so far. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026 In Milan, the smooth-skating, playmaking defenseman has shown exactly what the Americans were missing. CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 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 21 Feb. 2026.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster