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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But the Heat had a strong response, beginning the fourth quarter with a big run of its own after pulling out its zone defense for the first time this season.
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Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Auburn’s red-zone defense has been strong, but its pass coverage from linebackers and safeties has been a weak point, potentially creating an area Missouri could exploit if quarterback Beau Pribula settles in early.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Turning to a zone defense in the second half of Game 1 suffocated Phoenix’s offense, denying Alyssa Thomas the middle of the floor and turning the tide of the game.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Kuhr instead called for Cover 3, a zone defense that presents similarly to Cover 1, a man-to-man call and Pats' most common coverage so far that night.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
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Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Auburn’s red-zone defense has been strong, but its pass coverage from linebackers and safeties has been a weak point, potentially creating an area Missouri could exploit if quarterback Beau Pribula settles in early.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Turning to a zone defense in the second half of Game 1 suffocated Phoenix’s offense, denying Alyssa Thomas the middle of the floor and turning the tide of the game.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Kuhr instead called for Cover 3, a zone defense that presents similarly to Cover 1, a man-to-man call and Pats' most common coverage so far that night.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
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 6 Nov. 2025.
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