Libero

//ˈlɪbəɹoʊ// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A central defender to whom no forward is assigned for marking, forming the last line of defence and often initiating the offensive play.

    "Nicknamed “Der Kaiser”, Beckenbauer was as elegant as he was dominant, and such was his assurance in possession that he came to master the modern sweeper role, or libero. More so, he is credited with creating it."

  2. 2
    A designated back-row player intended to be used as a ball-control specialist.

Synonyms

All synonyms
sweeper

Example

More examples

"Nicknamed “Der Kaiser”, Beckenbauer was as elegant as he was dominant, and such was his assurance in possession that he came to master the modern sweeper role, or libero. More so, he is credited with creating it."

Etymology

From Italian libero (literally “free one”). So called because he has no direct opponent to mark and is therefore free to join in the offensive. The volleyball use is younger.

Related phrases

back rowball control

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.