defender

noun

de·​fend·​er di-ˈfen-dər 

1

: one that defends

2

: a player in a sport (such as football) assigned to a defensive position

Synonyms

• custodian
• guard
• guardian
• guardian angel
• protection
• protector

Examples of defender in a Sentence

one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender

Recent Examples on the Web

Athletic defenders and — outside of interior defensive linemen — guys with the ability to play in space. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2024

In recent months, Google has shown how its AI can now find software vulnerabilities, helping defenders patch apps and protect users. —Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Trevor Lawrence Playing Again Rodgers also comments about plays over the middle in terms of defenders being able to light up offensive players who catch it there. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

In mid-November, the president-elect picked oil and gas industry veteran Chris Wright, a stalwart defender of fossil fuels, to lead the Department of Energy. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English defendour, defender, borrowed from Anglo-French defendour, defendur, from defend-, stem of defendre "to defend" + -our, -ur -or entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing defender

• public defender

Kids Definition

defender

noun

de·​fend·​er -ˈfen-dər 

1

: one that defends

2

: a player in a sport (as football) who plays a defensive position

Legal Definition

defender

noun

de·​fend·​er

: a lawyer who represents defendants

especially : public defender