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
Opposing teams will switch to a 2-3 zone defense against Houston’s dual big lineup, attempting to clog the middle and make the Rockets pay for their lack of spacing.
—
Kelly Iko, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Kevin Willard switched to zone defense midway through the first half, flummoxing Colorado State and giving his team a chance to rally.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
Jonas Aidoo scored 22 points for Arkansas and Davis finished with 18 as the Razorbacks overcame a typically shaky offensive performance in the second half (30 percent from the floor against a rare Kansas zone defense) with some tough defense of their own down the stretch.
—Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Junior guard Lindsay Biddle had a game-high 12 points as the Broncos constantly applied pressure to the Monache zone defense.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
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Kelly Iko, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Kevin Willard switched to zone defense midway through the first half, flummoxing Colorado State and giving his team a chance to rally.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
Jonas Aidoo scored 22 points for Arkansas and Davis finished with 18 as the Razorbacks overcame a typically shaky offensive performance in the second half (30 percent from the floor against a rare Kansas zone defense) with some tough defense of their own down the stretch.
—Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Junior guard Lindsay Biddle had a game-high 12 points as the Broncos constantly applied pressure to the Monache zone defense.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zone defense
Cite this Entry
“Zone defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zone%20defense. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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