defender
/dɪˈfɛndə
/noun
1A person who defends someone or something: a determined defender of British interests...
- It is most unlikely that a determined defender of the cosmological line of reasoning would surrender even here.
- His strongest opposition came from defenders of vested interest in his own party.
- His image as a defender of the national interest made him popular among the masses.
Synonyms
protector, guard, guardian, preserver, bodyguard;
custodian, watchdog, keeper, overseer, superintendent, caretaker, steward, trustee
supporter, upholder, backer, champion, advocate, endorser, sustainer, bolsterer, apologist, proponent, exponent, promoter, apostle, standard-bearer, torch-bearer, adherent, believer
1.1 Bridge Either member of the partnership that did not win the auction. Compare with declarer.If there is a declarer, however, the two defenders should form a temporary partnership to defeat the declarer....
- After the declarer and defenders are determined, each has the opportunity to discard and receive new cards.
- In each hand one partnership are declarers and the other are the defenders.
2(In sport) a player whose task it is to protect their own side’s goal: Owen surged between two defenders, then drove the ball out of the reach of the goalkeeper...
- Traps are most effective when the two defenders cover two sides of the offensive player.
- With his back to goal and two defenders smothering him, he somehow manages to turn and make room for a shot, which he fires narrowly wide.
- Bizarrely it was the fifth time this season that Doncaster have cashed in on an own goal, although the defender knew little about it.
Synonyms
full back, back, sweeper;
(defenders) back four
3 Scots Law another term for defendant.