zone defense
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of zone defense
First recorded in 1925–30
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.
The Sparks had difficulty solving problems caused by the Mercury’s zone defense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Those underdogs tend to follow a simple recipe—they have one or two elite skills, like 3-point shooting or an airtight zone defense, that can tilt a seeming mismatch in their favor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
They finally found one by going to the zone defense that has been a rarity under Cronin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2025
With the Bruins getting outhustled and struggling to attack Eastern Washington’s zone defense, scoring became an unexpected slog.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2025
St. Peter’s started with a two-one-two zone defense.
From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers
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.
