linebacker

[lahyn-bak-er]

noun

Football.

1. a player on defense who takes a position close behind the linemen.

2. the position played by this player.

linebacker

/ ˈlaɪnˌbækə /

noun

1. a defensive player in American or Canadian football who is positioned just behind the line of scrimmage

Word History and Origins

Origin of linebacker¹

First recorded in 1960–65; line ¹ + backer

Example Sentences

Backup quarterback Mac Jones carved up the defense with quick passes that staved off the pass rush and challenged linebackers and defensive backs.

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Monarchs linebacker Shaun Scott forced a fumble and earned 1 1/2 sacks as the Eagles couldn’t break 25 rushing yards.

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In Texas, some athletes who might have played the state’s favorite sport in the past are now choosing to stick to the track, where there’s no chance of being clobbered by a linebacker.

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Lynn said he had no idea why USC’s front looked so flustered from the start against Illinois, while linebacker Eric Gentry said the situation was “the worst of the worst that we could have played.”

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There was linebacker Holden Smyser and defensive linemen Max Meier and Will Mack, all of whom helped the defense stop Serra three out of four times on fourth downs in the fourth quarter.

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