Meanings
plural linebackers
- American footballThe defensive players who are in position behind the defensive linemen and in front of the safeties and cornerbacks and whose principal responsibilities are to tackle runners and to defend against shorter passes.
The linebacker corralled the runner who had slipped through the hole.
2 more examples
While Brown distracted the usually hyperfocused Mangini, safety Kerry Rhodes and linebackers Eric Barton and Jonathan Vilma grabbed a cooler of Gatorade and surreptitiously assumed their positions according to plan.
2007 January 1, Karen Crouse, “With Wild-Card Spot Clinched, Jets Can Finally Talk Playoffs”, in The New York TimesHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans defended Azeez Al-Shaair after the linebacker was ejected from Sunday’s game for throwing a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
2024 December 2, David Close, “Houston Texans head coach defends Azeez Al-Shaair as the NFL leans toward suspending the linebacker, source says”, in CNN
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna defensive football player who takes a position close behind the linemen
noun(American football) the position of a defensive football player who plays close behind the line of scrimmage
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Catalan rerelínia
- rerelíniaThe defensive players who are in position behind the defensive linemen and in front of the safeties and cornerbacks
Finnish tukimies
- tukimiesThe defensive players who are in position behind the defensive linemen and in front of the safeties and cornerbacks
German Linebacker
- LinebackerThe defensive players who are in position behind the defensive linemen and in front of the safeties and cornerbacks
Spanish linebacker
- linebackerThe defensive players who are in position behind the defensive linemen and in front of the safeties and cornerbacks
Cite this entry
linebacker. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/linebacker
“linebacker.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/linebacker. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “linebacker,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/linebacker.
Source: linebacker on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.