defend

[ dih-fend ]
See synonyms for defend on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from or against): The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.

  2. to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold: She defended her claim successfully.

  1. to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).

  2. Law. to serve as attorney for (a defendant): He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.

  3. to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism; prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions put by a committee of specialists.

  4. Sports. to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger: A fortuitous trade has landed him on the team defending the World Series championship.

verb (used without object)
  1. Law. to enter or make a defense.

  2. Sports. to prevent the opposing team from scoring: She’s a freshman who already scores and defends like a professional.

Origin of defend

1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English defenden, from Old French défendre, from Latin dēfendere “to ward off, repel,” from dē- de- + -fendere “to strike” (see also bane )

synonym study For defend

1. Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously: to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier: to protect books by means of heavy paper covers.

Other words for defend

Opposites for defend

Other words from defend

  • de·fend·a·ble, adjective
  • de·fend·er, noun
  • un·de·fend·a·ble, adjective
  • un·de·fend·a·bly, adverb
  • un·de·fend·ed, adjective
  • well-de·fend·ed, adjective

Words Nearby defend

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How to use defend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defend

defend

/ (dɪˈfɛnd) /


verb
  1. to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on

  2. (tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence

  1. to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action

  2. sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack

  3. (tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge

Origin of defend

1
C13: from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere to ward off, from de- + -fendere to strike

Derived forms of defend

  • defendable, adjective
  • defender, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012