plural quarterbacks
American football
: a player who leads a team's attempts to score usually by passing the ball to other players
—abbr. QB
quarterbacks; quarterbacked; quarterbacking
US
1
American football
: to play the position of quarterback for (a team)
He quarterbacked his high school team.
2
: to lead or organize (something) by making important decisions
She quarterbacked the company's latest ad campaign.
Cite this Entry
“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/quarterback. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.
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