defender

A player whose main job is to stop the other team from scoring.

• She's our best defender.
• The striker ran past two defenders.
• Their central defender blocked the shot.

Opposites: attacker

Common phrases: central defender, a good defender, beat a defender

Someone who protects people or property against attack or harm.

• The city's defenders held the gate.
• He became a defender of workers' rights.
• The castle had only twenty defenders left.

How to use it: a defender of someone/something (She was a determined defender of vulnerable children.)

Similar words: protector, guardian

Opposites: attacker

Common phrases: brave defender, defender of someone, defender of rights