From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishRelated topics: Sport, American footballhalfbackhalf‧back /ˈhɑːfbæk $ ˈhæf-/ noun [countable]1DSa player in a game of football, rugby, hockey etc who plays in the middle part of the field2DSAa player in American football who, at the start of play, is behind the front line of players and next to the fullbackExamples from the Corpushalfback• Williams promptly hit James Jett on a halfbackpass, for an 18-yardtouchdown.• There was Dave Snyder, a sprinter and halfback of truequality.• The first game I scored two goals from halfback.• Nevertheless, halfbackGarrison Hearst is new to the offense.• If you want innovation, try more of that, and less of halfbacks and widereceiversthrowingdeep on the run.• They occasionally put tight end Andrew Glover at fullback, with Fenner moving to halfback.• The first was a third-down strike to halfback Anthony Theard that barely got the necessary 7 yards for a first down.