catenaccio

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noun

A system of defensive play focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities, typically using a libero.

OriginItalian catenaccio →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nouncatenaccio (uncountable)
  1. uncountableball gamesA system of defensive play focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities, typically using a libero.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
anti-footballharamballterrorist ball

Origin

  1. Italiancatenaccio
  2. Englishcatenaccio

Borrowed from Italian catenaccio, literally "bolt (for a door)".

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Catenaccio
  • Catenacciosystem of defensive play
Italian catenaccio
  • catenacciosystem of defensive play
Polish catenaccio
  • catenacciosystem of defensive play
Russian катена́ччо
  • катена́ччо (katenáččo)system of defensive play
Cite this entry
APA

catenaccio. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catenaccio

MLA

“catenaccio.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catenaccio. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “catenaccio,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catenaccio.

Source: catenaccio on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.