halfback

noun

half·​back ˈhaf-ˌbak How to pronounce halfback (audio)
ˈhäf-
1
: one of the backs stationed near either flank in football
2
: a player stationed immediately behind the forward line (as in field hockey, soccer, or rugby)

Examples of halfback 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.
But while Jackson is more like a halfback who runs for more yards, Allen is like a fullback who can be trusted to pick up the necessary yards in a short yardage situation. Harry Enten, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024 The Bucs also had 277 yards rushing in the 51-27 rout as rookie third-team halfback Sean Tucker had 192 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Jack Magruder, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 On fourth-and-1 at UCLA’s 17-yard line, quarterback Frank Tamburello outsmarted a Bruins defense expecting a sneak by pitching the ball to halfback Ed Vereb, who raced around the right end to score the game’s only touchdown on the opening series of the second half. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 Nov. 2024 Dub Jones, a star halfback on the early Cleveland Browns teams of the 1940s and 1950s, has passed away, per a team announcement. Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for halfback 

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of halfback was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near halfback

Cite this Entry

“Halfback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halfback. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

halfback

noun
half·​back ˈhaf-ˌbak How to pronounce halfback (audio)
ˈhȧf-
1
: a football back who lines up toward the right or left side of the formation
2
: a player positioned behind the forward line in some games (as soccer or field hockey)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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