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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender
Recent Examples on the Web Later in the half, again in 12 personnel, Rossi drove an Arkansas State defender about 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. 
Nathan Baird, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 While the quarterback is a significant threat carrying the ball, Burmeister should leave most of that to the experts — especially are suffering a slight injury to his right shoulder when he was tackled by an Arizona defender. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 But an Oklahoma defender stepped in, intercepted the ball and took off. Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 Senior defender Julian Orozco is cut from a different cloth for Elgin. Patrick Z. Mcgavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 As a literary artist, Rushdie is richly deserving of the Nobel, and the case is only augmented by his role as an uncompromising defender of freedom and a symbol of resiliency. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 The pass took a deflection off an Orange County defender and sat up perfectly for Williams to strike low and just inside the back post to make it 1-1 in the 23rd minute. Partner Content, The Arizona Republic, 13 Aug. 2022 Two of which are five stars: Thompson Tony Mitchell has split time at cornerback and safety and will bring versatility to Tuscaloosa; Florence’s Jahlil Hurley projects as an elite one-on-one defender. Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 27 July 2022 Now a senior defender, O’Connor has been a stalwart on the back line since her freshman season as a four-year starter. Steve Millar, chicagotribune.com, 7 Apr. 2022 See More
Nathan Baird, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 While the quarterback is a significant threat carrying the ball, Burmeister should leave most of that to the experts — especially are suffering a slight injury to his right shoulder when he was tackled by an Arizona defender. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 But an Oklahoma defender stepped in, intercepted the ball and took off. Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 Senior defender Julian Orozco is cut from a different cloth for Elgin. Patrick Z. Mcgavin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 As a literary artist, Rushdie is richly deserving of the Nobel, and the case is only augmented by his role as an uncompromising defender of freedom and a symbol of resiliency. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 The pass took a deflection off an Orange County defender and sat up perfectly for Williams to strike low and just inside the back post to make it 1-1 in the 23rd minute. Partner Content, The Arizona Republic, 13 Aug. 2022 Two of which are five stars: Thompson Tony Mitchell has split time at cornerback and safety and will bring versatility to Tuscaloosa; Florence’s Jahlil Hurley projects as an elite one-on-one defender. Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 27 July 2022 Now a senior defender, O’Connor has been a stalwart on the back line since her freshman season as a four-year starter. Steve Millar, chicagotribune.com, 7 Apr. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
defender
noun
de·fend·er di-ˈfen-dər
1
: a person or thing that protects from danger or attack
2
: a player in a sport who tries to keep the other team from scoring
Legal Definition
defender
noun
de·fend·er
: a lawyer who represents defendants
especially : public defender
defender
noun
as in protector
someone that protects one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- protector
- guardian
- custodian
- protection
- bodyguard
- guard
- keeper
- guardian angel
- champion
- sentinel
- warden
- warder
- sentry
- preserver
- saver
- watchdog
- watchman
- watch
- lookout
- harborer
- conserver