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.
Midway through practice, Williams flew down the right seam against a zone defense with two high safeties. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025 Specifically, a pair of zone defenses that were dead on deployment. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025 The Pacers’ work against a 3-2 zone defense needed to be better, and the head coach owned it. Tony East, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 Per Golden State of Mind’s Joe Viray, citing Synergy Sports, the Warriors were the worst team against zone defense in the NBA this season. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 1 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Zone defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zone%20defense. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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