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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.
Minnesota utilized a zone defense against Chicago State on Tuesday when the Cougars seized momentum in the second half. Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025 The Heat is among the teams that have seen the most zone defense this season, as opponents try to slow down Miami’s fast-pace offense. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Nov. 2025 But Denver’s red-zone defense is just too good to let Las Vegas turn this into a shootout. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025 However, the Jayhawks, who played zone defense, survived as Al Wood missed a shot at the buzzer in Kemper Arena in KC. Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 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 27 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on zone defense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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