fullback

noun

full·​back ˈfu̇l-ˌbak 

1

: an offensive football back used primarily for line plunges and blocking

2

: a primarily defensive player usually stationed nearest the defended goal (as in soccer or field hockey)

Examples of fullback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the iconic Chicago Bears photos from 1985, shot during a minicamp practice in the spring, captured Walter Payton with one finger on his left hand tugging down the shorts of fullback Matt Suhey, who was lined up in the I-formation. — Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Higbee is the sage veteran, Parkinson caught eight touchdown passes last season and Allen can also line up at fullback. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Former Chicago Bears fullback and 1985 Super Bowl champion Matt Suhey died this past weekend. — Jori Parys, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

United need a better left fullback, and Robinson, despite his recent injury history, would present as an upgrade to Luke Shaw. — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for fullback

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

fullback

noun

full·​back ˈfu̇l-ˌbak 

1

: a football back who usually lines up between the halfbacks

2

: a mainly defensive player (as in soccer or field hockey) who usually plays near the goal to be defended