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Glite Dictionary
🏉 A side player 🪖 A side guard 🏷️ A secondary product
flanker

flanker

2 6.6
A player on the side of the team who helps attack or defend
  • noun
  • /ˈflæŋkər/
  • Jargon
translation icon : flanker
  • But Owens played flanker with the Seahawks, whereas Kearse has practiced a variety of spots with the team.
  • flanker with 33 catches
  • Flanker right, split

It was a pre season game I think that I was playing blind side flanker for the game.

Examples

  • They didn’t just line Hester up at flanker, and there will be more of this as the season goes.

    Blog text (21)

  • The flanker is also to the same side.

    Blog text (29)

  • Coach sends in a play, Right Flanker Option.

    Superman III (1983)

  • There's a flanker lined up to the left behind the quarterback.

    The Waterboy (1998)

  • The pistol featured dual motion, usually with the tight end moving from a set position to a wingback (similar to Clemson's TE Dwayne Allen) and then the flanker motioning to either run or fake a sweep.

    Blog text (29)

  • The coach decided to use a flanker to create space on the outside of the defense.

  • In rugby, a flanker plays a crucial role in both offense and defense during the match.

  • The team relied on their speedy flanker to make quick runs along the sideline.

Synonyms

winger
vsflanker
64 3.4

A player who stays near the side of the field in sports like football and attacks to score or pass

is a side support player who also supports defense as well as attack
wingback
vsflanker
  • Jargon
1 7.5

A player on the side of the field who defends and attacks along the wing

is a general side support player rather than having a fixed dual role
right-winger
vsflanker
1 4.2

A player who attacks or defends on the right side in team sports

is a side support player not limited to only the right side
flanker back
vsflanker
  • Jargon
7.7

An American football player who stands near the sideline to catch passes

is a general side support player rather than a specialized pass target

Compounds

flanker back
  • Jargon
7.7

An American football player who stands near the sideline to catch passes

Surface Forms

flanker singular
flankers plural

Morphology

flanker = flank (transparent) = flank + er

This is a regular agent noun meaning one who flanks or is positioned at the flank.

Etymology

Flanker comes from the word flank meaning 'side' plus the ending -er which means 'one at'. In sports a flanker stands at the side of the main formation to help attack or defend, so the name means 'a player at the side'.