cornerback

noun

cor·​ner·​back ˈkȯr-nər-ˌbak How to pronounce cornerback (audio)
: a defensive halfback in football who defends the flank

Examples of cornerback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nixon started all 17 games at cornerback last season for the first time in his seven-year career and had a remarkably up-and-down season. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Lucas’ fellow cornerbacks also offered good assessments of their new coach. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 Excluding the one pinpoint pass Maye completed against him in the two-minute drill, Gonzalez didn’t allow a catch and won all three head-to-head reps against Brown in a 2-on-2 red-zone period pitting receiver and cornerbacks. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Stout may only be entering his second season but he is entrenched as the third cornerback, lining up against slot receivers in the 49ers’ nickel package. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cornerback

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cornerback was in 1955

Rhymes for cornerback

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Browse Nearby Words

corner
cornerback
cornerball
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Cite this Entry

“Cornerback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornerback. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cornerback

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cornerback

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