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 of defender

• 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

Jackson’s availability was curbed by red cards at Chelsea — in Bruges, a barge and shirt pull with defender Han-Beom Lee suggested those flickers of fury and confrontation still burn. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Reality says opposing defenses will stack the box with eight defenders until Miami proves tit has a passing attack that needs to be respected. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Choosing to guard him with one defender meant the elusive receiver could shake off the opponent and find open space. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Trinity Rodman beat the defenders down the sideline and crossed to Bethi for the goal. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

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