on defense
idiom
sports
: on the part of a team that defends the goal
She began the season on defense, but her coach later put her on offense.
Examples of on defense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tonga will be on the field when the Patriots want to go big up front, and Pharms has been a regular on defense.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Aug. 2025
Murphy was also physical and powerful on defense against the run.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Yorba Linda has eight returning starters on defense including All-OC third-team defensive lineman Blake Thorp and All-Bravo League first-team cornerback Thomas Knutson.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 31 July 2025
Spain, for example, has flat-out refused to spend 5 percent on defense.
—John Kennedy, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for on defense
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Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Aug. 2025
Murphy was also physical and powerful on defense against the run.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Yorba Linda has eight returning starters on defense including All-OC third-team defensive lineman Blake Thorp and All-Bravo League first-team cornerback Thomas Knutson.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 31 July 2025
Spain, for example, has flat-out refused to spend 5 percent on defense.
—John Kennedy, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for on defense
Cite this Entry
“On defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20defense. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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