cornerback

noun

cor·​ner·​back ˈkȯr-nər-ˌbak How to pronounce cornerback (audio)
: a defensive halfback in football who defends the flank

Examples of cornerback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Facing third and six at his 30-yard line, quarterback Justin Herbert fired a ball down the left sideline toward Johnston, who had beaten Green Bay cornerback Carrington Valentine. Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023 Sophomore cornerback Jay’Vion Cole has a team-high three of the Spartans’ 10 interceptions and eight pass breakups. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023 Three former football players at the University of Houston were killed in the crash, including D.J. Hayden, a cornerback who went on to play for the then-Oakland Raiders. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2023 Trevon recorded 11 interceptions, the key defensive statistic for cornerbacks, in 2021, which was the most in the NFL that season and the most in a single season in 40 years. Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023 Taylor, a former sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News, has followed Sanders for decades, since Sanders was a star cornerback for the Cowboys. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023 Ace cornerback Dwight McGlothern is questionable after missing a couple of weeks in concussion protocols. Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2023 Against the Packers, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris started Cobie Durant as an outside cornerback in place of Derion Kendrick. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023 Two former Eagles players also made cameos at the couple's wedding — former cornerback Lito Sheppard and former wide receiver Fred Barnett. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cornerback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cornerback was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near cornerback

Cite this Entry

“Cornerback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornerback. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

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