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defensive back

American  

noun

Football.

  1. a defender positioned off the line of scrimmage for the purpose of covering pass receivers and tackling runners who elude linemen and linebackers.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Junior Zion Phelps, in his first season running track for Loyola and a defensive back and receiver in football, is the king of the 100 meters vs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

That came after previous deals for defensive back Jalen Ramsey and receiver Brandin Cooks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Tony Dungy was a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they beat the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2026

Seattle's assistant head coach Frazier was a defensive back in the Bears' Super Bowl-winning team that captured the imagination of a youngster in north London.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

“We don’t care about Mojo. They can have their Mojo,” said Derric Evans, the All-American defensive back.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.