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
New faces on defense There were significant questions about the Broncos’ defense heading into the spring, with several starting positions up for grabs.
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Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2025
The Packers added three key contributors on defense last year by taking linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Bullard in the second round as well as Williams in the fourth.
—Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
Regardless, the Suns made the same mistakes — sloppy with the ball, slow to get back on defense and most alarming, quick to crumble when challenged.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The two men had been meeting to discuss coöperation on defense and the economy.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
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Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2025
The Packers added three key contributors on defense last year by taking linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Bullard in the second round as well as Williams in the fourth.
—Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
Regardless, the Suns made the same mistakes — sloppy with the ball, slow to get back on defense and most alarming, quick to crumble when challenged.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The two men had been meeting to discuss coöperation on defense and the economy.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 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 2 May. 2025.
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