libero

L1I1B3E1R1O1
UK/ˈlɪbəɹəʊ/US/ˈlɪbəɹoʊ/US, nonstandard/lɪˈbɛɹoʊ/

noun

A central defender to whom no forward is assigned for marking, forming the last line of defence and often initiating the offensive play.

Similar
sweeper
OriginItalian libero →
Less commonScrabble 8
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Meanings

libero1

nounlibero (plural liberos)

plural liberos

  1. ball gamesA central defender to whom no forward is assigned for marking, forming the last line of defence and often initiating the offensive play.

    Nicknamed “Der Kaiser”, Beckenbauer was as elegant as he was dominant, and such was his assurance in possession that he came to master the modern sweeper role, or libero. More so, he is credited with creating it.

    2024 January 8, Sachin Nakrani, “Franz Beckenbauer, World Cup-winning captain and manager, dies aged 78”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

    Synonyms: sweeper

  2. ball gamesA designated back-row player intended to be used as a ball-control specialist.

Libero2

nounLibero (plural Liberos)

plural Liberos

  1. Alternative letter-case form of libero (volleyball).

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA central defender to whom no forward is assigned for marking, forming the last line of defence and often initiating the offensive play.

Similar
sweeper
Also see
sweeper

Origin

  1. Italianlibero
  2. Englishlibero

From Italian libero (literally “free one”). So called because he has no direct opponent to mark and is therefore free to join in the offensive. The volleyball use is younger.

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan defensa lliure
  • defensa lliurefootball player
Chinese Mandarin 自由人
  • 自由人 (zìyóurén)volleyball player
Dutch libero
  • liberofootball player
Estonian libero, vabakaitsja
  • liberovolleyball player
  • vabakaitsjafootball player
Finnish libero, libero
  • liberovolleyball player
  • liberofootball player
French libero, libéro
  • liberovolleyball player
  • libérovolleyball player
  • liberofootball player
  • libérofootball player
German Libero, Libero
  • Liberovolleyball player
  • Liberofootball player
Greek λίμπερο, ελεύθερος
  • λίμπερο (límpero)football player
  • ελεύθερος (eléftheros)football player
Polish libero, libero
  • liberovolleyball player
  • liberofootball player
Portuguese líbero
  • líberovolleyball player
Russian либеро
  • либеро (libero)volleyball player
Swedish libero, libero
  • liberovolleyball player
  • liberofootball player

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

boilerreboil
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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