zone defense
noun
: a system of defense (as in basketball or football) in which each player guards an assigned area rather than a specified opponent
Examples of zone defense in a Sentence
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The visiting Spartans showed a 1-3-1 zone defense for most of the game.
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Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Largely featured against second-team talent during his recent stats-building surge as a reserve, and often hidden in the Heat’s zone defense as solely a rim protector, Ware often stood alone and stood tall during the moments of truth in Charlotte.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
The Gophers’ 2-3 zone defense was a key piece in winning three of the previous four games, but the Hoosiers unlocked it.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Miami cruised into the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, but sputtered and Stanford took advantage, going into a zone defense and outscoring UM 18-5 in the final stretch to force overtime.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
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Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Largely featured against second-team talent during his recent stats-building surge as a reserve, and often hidden in the Heat’s zone defense as solely a rim protector, Ware often stood alone and stood tall during the moments of truth in Charlotte.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
The Gophers’ 2-3 zone defense was a key piece in winning three of the previous four games, but the Hoosiers unlocked it.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Miami cruised into the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, but sputtered and Stanford took advantage, going into a zone defense and outscoring UM 18-5 in the final stretch to force overtime.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zone defense
Cite this Entry
“Zone defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zone%20defense. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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