on defense
idiom
sports
: on the part of a team that defends the goal
She began the season on defense, but her coach later put her on offense.
Examples of on defense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Volpe didn’t leave until the top of the fourth inning when Oswald Peraza took over for him on defense.
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Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 7 June 2025
That obituary for the behemoths may have been premature, as the 2025 NBA season marked a triumphant return of lineups with multiple big men, which create more second chance opportunities via offensive rebounds and simultaneously protect the paint on defense.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 June 2025
The Oilers are vulnerable on defense, and the Panthers must find a way to take advantage.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
My son looked up at me and smiled, and then ran back on defense.
—Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for on defense
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Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 7 June 2025
That obituary for the behemoths may have been premature, as the 2025 NBA season marked a triumphant return of lineups with multiple big men, which create more second chance opportunities via offensive rebounds and simultaneously protect the paint on defense.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 June 2025
The Oilers are vulnerable on defense, and the Panthers must find a way to take advantage.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
My son looked up at me and smiled, and then ran back on defense.
—Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for on defense
Cite this Entry
“On defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20defense. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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