ball-winner

noun

ball-win·​ner
plural ball-winners
British
: a player in a sport such as soccer who gains possession of the ball from an opposing player
Busquets has similar passing ability to Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas and is a tenacious ball-winner.Reuters UK, 9 July 2010

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ball-winner was in 1972

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near ball-winner

Cite this Entry

“Ball-winner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball-winner. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!