defenseman
UK: dɪˈfɛnsmən | US: dɪˈfɛnsmən
n. (Ice hockey/lacrosse) A player positioned primarily to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
The word "defenseman" is a compound of "defense" (from Old French defens, meaning "protection," derived from Latin defendere "to ward off") and "man" (from Old English mann, meaning "person"). It emerged in the early 20th century in North American sports terminology, specifically describing a player whose role is defensive. The term reflects the straightforward combination of function ("defense") and role ("man"), common in sports position naming (e.g., "goaltender," "forward").
The defenseman blocked a crucial shot in the final minute of the game.
She is the team’s fastest defenseman, often stopping breakaways.
A skilled defenseman must anticipate the opponent’s moves.
The coach praised the defenseman for his physical play.
He transitioned from forward to defenseman last season.