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.
The 27-year-old defenseman puts it all on the line every night and should be remembered fondly for his six-plus seasons in New York. Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025 The first opportunity the home crowd had to roar came four minutes into the middle frame, when Wild defenseman Jake Middleton exchanged punches with Jets blueliner Luke Schenn. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025 The Seals selected the defenseman in the expansion draft ahead of the 2018-19 season. Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025 To alleviate the logjam, the Sharks could also trade a defenseman if everyone is healthy. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025 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 6 Nov. 2025.

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
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