fullback
Americannoun
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a running back who lines up behind the quarterback and is farthest from the line of scrimmage.
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the position played by this back.
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(in soccer, Rugby, field hockey) a player stationed near the defended goal to carry out chiefly defensive duties.
noun
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soccer hockey one of two defensive players positioned in front of the goalkeeper
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rugby a defensive player positioned close to his own line
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the position held by any of these players
Etymology
Origin of fullback
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Vocabulary lists containing fullback
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.
With piles of snow at every intersection and pedestrians moving in slow motion, I regularly bolted ahead and mounted obstacles like a fullback rushing for glory, leaving Sarah somewhere behind.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
Former Glasgow Warriors fullback Hogg amassed a century of senior caps for his country and was involved in three British and Irish Lions tours.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026
“It could be a real easy excuse for us to say, ‘Alright, that’s finally the last straw that’s gonna keep us from doing this thing,’” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026
Jones, a fullback, has been “an animal. He runs hard,” Guevara said.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025
Papi whistles to a guy named José, and I’m in as a fullback.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
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.
