goaltender

American  

[gohl-ten-der] / ˈgoʊlˌtɛn dər /

noun

1. a goalkeeper.

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Usage

What does goaltender mean? In sports like hockey, goaltender is another name for the goalkeeper, the player positioned in front of the goal whose job is to prevent the ball or puck from entering it (or crossing the goal line). Goaltender can be used to refer to the position or the player. A goaltender might say they play goaltender. A common informal word for goaltender is goalie. The word goaltender is commonly used in ice hockey and lacrosse. In soccer (football), this position is usually called goalkeeper, goalie, or keeper. The word goaltending can refer to acting as a goaltender, but it is also used in a more specific way in basketball (which does not have a goaltender or goalkeeper position). In basketball, goaltending refers to a rules violation in which a player interferes with a shot by touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket or while it is over, on, or within the rim of the basket. Example: When I played hockey, I was the goaltender, and I was pretty good, especially because I was quick.

Etymology

Origin of goaltender

First recorded in 1905–10; goal + tender ³

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goaltender

Not long after, he attacked a terrible pass back to Iraq’s goaltender and barreled home a second score.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

For the playoffs, though, Brind’Amour opted for a goaltender who had actually experienced the playoffs before.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

Then there’s goaltender Frederik Andersen, who is in the form of his life: He has saved 95% of the shots he’s faced.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026

Jack Eichel scored Vegas’ only goal on a power play in the final seconds, denying goaltender Lukas Dostal and the Ducks their first shutout of the season.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

If Joey was the best they could do for a goaltender, then I already had the job.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor