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.
Six-foot-three right shot (defensemen) who can skate and create offense don’t grow on trees, either. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 The 6-foot-6, 228-pound defenseman scored 32 points in 134 career regular-season games with the Blackhawks from 2023-26. Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Jean and Denis became Islanders fixtures, Denis as captain and one of the NHL’s best defensemen. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026 Then trading that pick to land a non-star defenseman rather than an elite winger makes matters even worse. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 24 June 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 29 Jun. 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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