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

• 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 second interception bounced off the hands of Travis Kelce — the second time this year a Mahomes interception has hit Kelce before popping into the arms of a defender. —Sam McDowell October 27, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025

To use his hands every time, to stay inside-out, to keep his feet moving and mirror the defender. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

Making the tackle on the Buffalo defender who recovered the ball. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025

Ball is still a good passer and defender, but his jumper has been a bit MIA lately, and his health will always be a question mark for the rest of his career. —Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

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