on defense
idiom
sports
: on the part of a team that defends the goal
She began the season on defense, but her coach later put her on offense.
Examples of on defense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ohio State’s 2024-25 season on defense can be broken down into three parts.
—
Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
The White House's Position While U.S. participation in the exercises was never anticipated, the drills coincide with the Trump administration telegraphing very clearly to European NATO members that Washington expects more from them on defense.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Trump has criticized America’s European and NATO allies for years for not spending enough on defense and accused them of taking advantage of the U.S., which has thousands of troops on bases spread across Europe.
—Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025
Just 23 of 32 NATO members currently spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense — after having vowed to do so in 2014.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
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Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
The White House's Position While U.S. participation in the exercises was never anticipated, the drills coincide with the Trump administration telegraphing very clearly to European NATO members that Washington expects more from them on defense.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Trump has criticized America’s European and NATO allies for years for not spending enough on defense and accused them of taking advantage of the U.S., which has thousands of troops on bases spread across Europe.
—Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025
Just 23 of 32 NATO members currently spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense — after having vowed to do so in 2014.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for on defense
Dictionary Entries Near on defense
Cite this Entry
“On defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20defense. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
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