Cornerback

/ˈkɔːrnərˌbæk/

nounBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

A defensive player in American football who lines up close to the line of scrimmage and is responsible for covering wide receivers.

/ˈkɔːrnərˌbæk/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A defensive player in American football

The team's success heavily relied on the performance of their cornerbacks.

💡 Simply: Imagine a super-fast defender in football who tries to stop the other team from catching the ball. They're like the superheroes who guard the edges of the playing field!

👶 For kids: In football, a cornerback is like a guard who tries to stop the other team's players from catching the ball. They stand on the side of the field.

More Examples

2

The coach emphasized the importance of the cornerbacks' quick reaction time and agility.

3

A good cornerback needs excellent coverage skills to defend against passes.

How It's Used

American Football

"The cornerback intercepted the pass and ran it back for a touchdown."

From 'corner' (referring to a specific position on the field) and 'back' (referring to a defensive position). The term emerged with the evolution of American football tactics.

The term 'cornerback' gained prominence with the development of modern American football strategies in the early to mid-20th century.

Memory tip

Think of the cornerback guarding the 'corner' of the field, preventing the receiver from catching the ball.

Base: corner
corner backcorner-back

Usage

80%Spoken
20%Written