small forward

noun

: a basketball forward who is usually smaller than a power forward and whose play is characterized by quickness and scoring ability

Examples of small forward 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.
His best shot is riding that shooting jump and becoming a true floor-spacer at the small forward position. John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 June 2026 Bardwell, a 6-foot-6, 175-pound small forward out of the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta and Compton Magic AAU team in California, scored 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting (3-of-7 from 3) with seven rebounds in Adidas 3SSB Select Team’s 89-83 victory over Next Generation. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 As small forward for the Houston Rockets, KJ became a fan favorite due to his dynamic presence on the court. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 So too for Kevin Durant, who, despite being a verified six feet eleven, marketed himself as six feet nine to maintain positional flexibility, and to avoid the reputation of being a power forward rather than a small forward. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for small forward

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of small forward was in 1977

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Small forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small%20forward. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster