Screen Pass Definition & Meaning

Definition

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms screen pass American

noun

Football.

1. a pass thrown to a receiver who is directly in back of a wall of blockers and who is behind or not far beyond the line of scrimmage.

Etymology

Origin of screen pass

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Friday, it began on the Ducks’ first play from scrimmage, when defensive back D’Angelo Ponds picked off a screen pass and ran it back for a touchdown.

From The Wall Street Journal

Early in the second quarter, he caught a screen pass, did a tightrope run down the Los Angeles sideline and dived into the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.

From Los Angeles Times

Tight end Jack Endries made two critical catches on passes from Harris — one for 16 yards and another for 22 yards on a screen pass.

From Los Angeles Times

Colson has been gradually integrating into the defense, but he’s already making an impact, disrupting a screen pass and demonstrating his ability to cover the field.

From Los Angeles Times

On that fourth-down play, McCarthy tossed a screen pass to a wide-open Blake Corum, and the stocky running back ran 27 yards that was enough for a first down despite a blocking-in-the-back penalty.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.