point guard

noun

: a guard in basketball who is chiefly responsible for running the offense

Examples of point guard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The thought here remains that there won’t be a definitive backup point guard and that Spoelstra will instead seek ballhandling and playmaking elsewhere in the rotation. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026 Brown recognized those strengths, too, praising Traoré’s playmaking, pace and ability to touch the paint when discussing Brooklyn’s point guards. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 The team was lacking a true point guard though, so Padover went out and got Jordin Canada from Seattle in 2024. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Nakase leads Valkyries to WNBA Finals Former UCLA point guard Natalie Nakase led the Golden State Valkyries to an 87-77 overtime win over the Aces in Las Vegas on Friday, sweeping the series and advancing to the WNBA Finals. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for point guard

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of point guard was in 1965

Rhymes for point guard

See All Rhymes for point guard

Browse Nearby Words

point function
point guard
pointillage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Point guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20guard. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All