defender
UK: dɪˈfɛndə | US: dɪˈfɛndər
n. 1. A person who defends or protects someone or something.
n. 2. (Sports) A player whose primary role is to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
vt. (Rare) To act as a defender; to protect or support.
defender = defend<protect> + er<agent noun suffix>
- defend: From Latin defendere ("to ward off, protect"), combining de- (away) + fendere (to strike, push).
- -er: A suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., "teacher," "runner"), indicating "one who does the action."
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin defendere, where de- implies "away" and fendere relates to striking or repelling. Over time, it evolved into Old French defendre before entering Middle English as "defenden." The suffix -er was added to denote a person performing the action, creating "defender" by the 14th century. The logic reflects a shift from the abstract act of protection (defend) to the concrete role of a protector (defender).
The lawyer acted as a fierce defender of human rights.
In soccer, the defender blocked the opponent’s shot.
She has always been a vocal defender of environmental policies.
The castle’s defenders resisted the siege for months.
His job as a cybersecurity defender involves stopping online threats.