either the scrum half or the stand-off half any of three players positioned behind the line of forwards and in front of the fullbacks any of certain similar players in other team sports
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
half•back /ˈhæfˌbæk/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Sport[Football.]
- [countable] one of two backs who typically line up on each side of the fullback.
- [uncountable] the position played by such a back.
- Sport[countable] (in soccer, etc.) a player stationed near the forward line to try to score points.
half•back
(haf′bak′, häf′-),USA pronunciation n.
- Sport[Football.]
- one of two backs who typically line up on each side of the fullback.
- the position played by such a back.
- Sport(in soccer, Rugby, field hockey, etc.) a player stationed near the forward line to carry out chiefly offensive duties.
- half + back1 1880–85
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'halfback' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Edwards
- Hb
- Jeeps
- John
- Johns
- LH
- action
- center halfback
- five-eighth
- half
- interference
- jet
- l.h.b.
- platoon
- r.h.b.
- running back