defenseman

noun

de·​fense·​man di-ˈfen(t)s-mən How to pronounce defenseman (audio)
-ˌman
: a player in a sport (such as hockey) who is assigned to a defensive zone or position

Examples of defenseman 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.
In addition, a second-period assist by Quinn Hughes gave him the franchise’s single-season record for helpers by a defenseman with 46 in 43 games since coming to town in a December trade. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026 Burns has 11 tallies this season, joining Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom as the only defensemen in league history to notch double-digit goals at 40 or older. ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026 Or Keaton Verhoeff, the towering North Dakota product and top defenseman in this year’s draft? Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026 Former Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes had his 67th assist. CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defenseman

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defenseman was in 1877

Cite this Entry

“Defenseman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defenseman. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

defenseman

noun
de·​fense·​man -mən How to pronounce defenseman (audio)
-ˌman
: a player in a sport who is assigned to a defensive zone or position
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