Synonyms and antonyms of Players and positions in various sports in American Thesaurus

all-American (adjective)

an all-American player is a student at a high school, college, or university in the U.S. who has officially been called one of the best in their particular sport

back (noun)

a player on a football or soccer team whose job is to defend (=stop the other team from scoring goals)

back (noun)

one of the positions on a team where a back plays, behind the front line of players

backfield (noun)

the players who play in the backfield

ballplayer (noun)

American someone who plays baseball, especially as their job

blue (noun)

a person who has played for Oxford University or Cambridge University in a sport

boy (noun)

British the members of a sports team

center (noun)

a player in football whose position is in the middle of the offensive line

center (noun)

a player in games such as hockey and soccer whose position is in the middle of a line of forwards (=attacking players)

center forward (noun)

the person in the center of the front row of attacking players in some team sports, for example soccer

club (noun)

a team of sports players and the staff who work with them

conference (noun)

a group of teams that play against each other

crosstrainer (noun)

someone who trains in more than one sport

defender (noun)

a player whose job is to stop the other team from scoring in a game such as soccer

defense (noun)

the players in a team game who try to prevent the other team from scoring points

defenseman (noun)

American a player whose job is to stop the other team from scoring points in a game such as hockey

defensive (adjective)

a defensive player tries to stop the other team from scoring points

dream team (noun)

a perfect team made up of the best players

enforcer (noun)

American a player in a game, especially hockey, whose job is to frighten members of the other team and to hurt them if they play in a rough or illegal way

the field (noun)

the team in baseball, softball, etc. that is throwing the ball and trying to catch it when the other team hits it

fielder (noun)

a player in baseball, softball, and some other team sports whose job is to catch or pick up the ball when a player from the other team hits it

finalist (noun)

a player or team that takes part in the final game in a competition

first base (noun)

the position played by the person who guards first base

first-string (adjective)

American first-string players on a sports team are the best players

forward (noun)

a player in a game such as basketball, soccer, or hockey whose job is to attack the other team and score

free agent (noun)

a player who is available to sign a contract with any team

fullback (noun)

in sports such as soccer or hockey, a defensive position near your team’s goal or a player in this position

goalie (noun)

informal a goalkeeper

goalkeeper (noun)

the player whose job is to stop the ball from going into the goal in games such as soccer

goaltender (noun)

American a goalkeeper

hacker (noun)

Americaninformal someone who enjoys playing a sport but is not very good at it

halfback (noun)

old-fashioned in soccer, a player who plays in midfield

hitter (noun)

someone who hits a ball, especially in tennis and baseball

international (noun)

someone who plays in an international sports game

junior (noun)

a young person who is involved in a particular activity, especially sports

junior varsity (noun)

American a sports team for the players in a school who are either not old enough or not good enough to play on the varsity (=best team)

JV (abbreviation)

American junior varsity

keeper (noun)

Britishinformal a goalkeeper

ladder (noun)

a list of the names of all the players in a sports competition in order, with the best player at the top

league (noun)

a group of teams or players who regularly compete against one another

league standings (noun)

American a list of teams or players put in order according to how many games or points they have won in matches or competitions

lineup (noun)

a team of players who play in a particular game

midfield (noun)

the players who play in the middle part of the field in games played with a ball such as soccer

midfielder (noun)

a player who plays in midfield

midget (adjective)

Canadian in amateur sport, relating to an age level between the ages of 15 and 17

MVP (noun)

American Most Valuable Player: the best player in a team in sports such as baseball and American football

offense (noun)

the members of a team in a game such as football whose job is to try to score points

outfielder (noun)

a player in the outfield

peewee (noun)

American a child involved in a sport or sports league (=group) organized for children

player (noun)

someone who plays a particular game or sport

professional (noun)

someone who plays a sport or does an activity as a job rather than for enjoyment

racer (noun)

someone or something that competes in a race

the reserves (noun)

a player who has not been chosen to play in a particular game but who is available to play if needed

the reserves (noun)

a team consisting of players who have not been chosen to play for the main team

right-winger (noun)

someone who plays on the right side of a field for a team when it is facing its opponents in games such as soccer and field hockey

rookie (noun)

American someone who has been a professional sports player for less than one year

scorer (noun)

a player who scores a point in a game

second-string (adjective)

American in sports, second-string players are used only if the best players are not available

seed (noun)

a player or team that has been given a number that shows how likely they are to win a competition

semifinalist (noun)

a person or team who plays in a semifinal

server (noun)

the player who hits the ball to start the play in a game such as tennis

shooter (noun)

a player who shoots the ball

side (noun)

a sports team

signing (noun)

British a player who has recently signed a contract to join a sports team

sportsman (noun)

a man who plays sports, especially a professional player

sportswoman (noun)

a woman who plays sports, especially a professional player

squad (noun)

a sports team

squad (noun)

British a large group of players from which a team is chosen

standings (noun)

a list of teams or players put in order according to how many points they have won in games or competitions against each other. The usual British word is table.

striker (noun)

a soccer player whose main job or skill is scoring goals

string (noun)

American a group of players of the same level of ability

sub (noun)

informal a substitute, especially someone who plays instead of another player in a sport

substitute (noun)

a player who replaces another member of his or her team during a game

sweeper (noun)

a player on a soccer team who plays behind the players in defense

tailback (noun)

American a football player whose position is farthest behind the front line of players

team (noun)

a group of people who play a sport or a game against another group

team (noun)

of a team

transfer (noun)

a person such as a football player who has been moved from one team to another

unmarked (adjective)

mainly British in sports, an unmarked player has a lot of freedom to move because they are not being marked by a player from the other team

the visitors (noun)

the team that has traveled to their opponent’s sports field to play against them, for example in a football game

wild card (noun)

a player who has this permission

wing (noun)

a player who plays on the left or right side in soccer, ice hockey, and some other sports

winger (noun)

one of the players in a game such as ice hockey or soccer who play mainly down the right or left side of the field