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.
But what if addressing that organizational need, which in this case is a big right-shot defenseman with high offensive upside, isn’t a big reach at all? Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 7 May 2026 MacKinnon was credited with two hits in the game — one on Hughes, which knocked the talented defenseman to the ice, and another on Boldy, who went hard into the boards. ABC News, 6 May 2026 Defenseman Alberts Smits The Panthers have had success with Latvian players as of late — see defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis — so why not get perhaps the top hockey prospect to come from the country? Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026 The Blackhawks’ other defensemen will be older and more experienced at that point, so some of that could be clearer. Scott Powers, New York Times, 6 May 2026 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 12 May. 2026.

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
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