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

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.
There’s also the decision to deploy a zone defense on third-and-long in the first half, leading to an easy first-down conversion from Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. Doug Kyed, Hartford Courant, 24 Nov. 2024 To go even further, the Bucs also play zone coverage at the highest rate in the NFL, and Johnson has quietly been the Giants' second-best receiver when facing zone defenses. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2024 McBride hit the Dolphins in soft spots of their zone defense and Harrison made spectacular catches for big gains. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024 Already good against man in coverage, the second-year receiver had improved both his understanding of how to find the holes in zone defenses and his route running. Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for zone defense 

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zone defense was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near zone defense

Cite this Entry

“Zone defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zone%20defense. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

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