Defending team and Offense

Opposite meaning terms

Defending team noun - (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring.

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Offense is an antonym for defending team.

Offense noun - The team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score.

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Defending team is an antonym for offense.

In this situation, the penalty is not called until the defending team touches the puck; the goalie won't be facing any shots, so the extra attacker can press the offense.

Source: Useful Notes / Ice Hockey
This is possible if a team tries for a two point conversion, drops the ball and the defending team knocks the ball out of the end zone (presumably to prevent the offense from picking up the ball in the end-zone for two points).

Source: Useful Notes / American Football

Cite this Source

Offense and Defending team. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defending_team/offense

Defending team & Offense. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defending_team/offense>.

Offense or Defending team. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defending_team/offense.

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