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
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.
Scott, who last week was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given annually to college football’s top defensive back, only played 37 of Miami’s 71 snaps on defense against Syracuse. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2025 He is considered a leader on special teams and an ascending backup on defense. Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2025 By mid-2025, the two countries had opened discussions on defense and free trade, and Bangladesh joined China and Pakistan for a trilateral summit in June after restoring diplomatic ties with the latter. Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025 Christie isn’t wrong to point out Sacramento’s deficiencies on defense. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on defense

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20defense. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!