linebacker

noun

line·​back·​er ˈlīn-ˌba-kər 

: a defensive football player who lines up immediately behind the line of scrimmage to make tackles on running plays through the line or defend against short passes

Examples of linebacker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And that was even before linebacker Dre Greenlaw was presented with the Dwight Clark Award, and a quartet of 49ers QBs — Brock Purdy, Steve Young, Alex Smith and Jeff Garcia — sat down for an onstage conversation with NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco. —Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024

But there is no other way to look at it after an offseason in which the Dallas Cowboys did next to nothing to improve the roster — signing only one sure starter in linebacker Eric Kendricks in free agency — and are heading into a season in which the future of the franchise hangs in the balance. —Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

linebacker

noun

line·​back·​er ˈlīn-ˌbak-ər 

: a football player on the defending team whose usual position is a short distance in back of the line of scrimmage