defenseman

American  

[dih-fens-muhn, -man] / dɪˈfɛns mən, -ˌmæn /

noun

Sports.

plural

defensemen

1. a player in certain games, as ice hockey or lacrosse, who lines up in a defensive zone or position.

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Etymology

Origin of defenseman

First recorded in 1890–95; defense + man

Example Sentences

But general manager Pat Verbeek signaled the team’s long rebuild is over, trading first- and third-round draft picks — the kind of picks he has long hoarded — to Washington late Thursday for Carlson, 36, an offense-minded blue liner who led the Caps with 36 assists and is the franchise’s all-time leading defenseman scorer.

From Los Angeles Times

The Ducks proved they are all-in for a push to their first playoff berth in eight years by acquiring defenseman John Carlson ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline.

From Los Angeles Times

Days before Storrie’s episode, The Athletic announced that Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes — fresh off besting Team Canada to win Olympic gold with the U.S. men’s hockey team in Milan — would join Storrie on the show before heading over to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday.

From Salon

The Ducks bolstered their blueline Thursday night in anticipation of ending their long playoff drought, acquiring veteran defenseman John Carlson in a trade with the Washington Capitals.

From Los Angeles Times

Carlson, who played an integral part of the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup win and is a former Norris Trophy runner-up for the NHL’s top defenseman, should bring a veteran presence to a young Ducks team that is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

From Los Angeles Times