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

Rothrock made a couple touches and, as goalkeeper Daniel crept off his line, slipped a shot past defender Reid Roberts and inside the near post. —Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

The game also featured the official return to play for defender Savy King. —Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026

Anderson’s low shot snuck past four defenders and was deflected before getting past a diving Smith into the bottom left side of the net. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026

Vancouver’s Tristan Blackmon, who won MLS defender of the year, was out with a calf injury; Minnesota’s Michael Boxall missed a second straight game with an adductor injury. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 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