zone defense

noun

Sports.

1. a method of defense, especially in basketball and football, in which each member of the defensive team guards a specified portion of the playing area.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zone defense¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

That offense is the reason opposing coaches like to play zone defense against La Cañada.

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With the Bruins getting outhustled and struggling to attack Eastern Washington’s zone defense, scoring became an unexpected slog.

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Redick admitted that he caught himself in the first halfway briefly longing for James when the Lakers were struggling to score against a zone defense.

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Wolfson, who has used a matchup zone defense at times during his coaching days, is teasing how it might make a return with Millogo in the middle.

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Instead, Jesuit, supported by a loud contingent of students from its nearby campus, made eight threes and used its matchup zone defense to leave the Chancellors unable to respond in the fourth quarter after being down 43-40.

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