goaltending

noun

goal·​tend·​ing ˈgōl-ˌten-diŋ How to pronounce goaltending (audio)
1
: the act of guarding a goal (as in hockey)
2
: a violation in basketball that involves touching or deflecting a ball that is on its downward path toward the basket or on or within the rim of the basket

Examples of goaltending in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Early season trends are already shaping their narrative — Ovechkin’s ice time is being managed carefully, and while the power play has looked shaky, the defensive structure and goaltending duo of Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren should keep them competitive once again this season. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 The opposing goaltending won’t be Vezina caliber forever, right? Peter Baugh, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 Demers points to a more stable defense corps with the additions of John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, and Dmitry Orlov, and improved goaltending, with Yaroslav Askarov entering his first full season in the NHL, and the promise of better special teams as reasons for hope. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2025 Colorado traded for Mackenzie Blackwood eight days later, and the reshaped goaltending tandem helped save what had been a tumultuous start to the season. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for goaltending

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of goaltending was in 1891

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Cite this Entry

“Goaltending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goaltending. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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