halfback
|half-back|
/ˈhæf.bæk/
player positioned halfway back
Etymology
'halfback' originates from English, specifically the compound 'half' + 'back', where 'half' meant 'one of two equal parts' and 'back' meant 'the rear part or position'.
'halfback' was earlier written as the hyphenated form 'half-back' in 18th–19th century English, especially in sporting and military descriptions, and later contracted to the modern single word 'halfback'.
Initially, it meant someone or something positioned 'halfway back' (literal spatial sense); over time it evolved to denote a specific playing position in team sports such as American football and rugby.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in American or Canadian football, an offensive backfield player who often carries the ball on running plays and may catch passes or block; historically synonymous with running back or tailback in some systems.
The halfback rushed for 120 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
in rugby (and older usage in soccer/football), a player positioned between the forwards and the backs; in rugby union this can refer collectively to the scrum-half and fly-half or, in some dialects, to one of those specific positions.
The coach paired a quick halfback with a strong fly-half to direct the backline.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 3
historical/general: a person or object located halfway toward the rear; literally someone or something situated 'halfway back'. (Now mainly used in sports contexts.)
In the formation, the halfback stood halfway between the front line and the rear guard.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/19 08:20