defense

American  

[dih-fens, dee-fens] / dɪˈfɛns, ˈdi fɛns /

noun

• defenses
  plural

1. resistance against attack; protection.

   Two more regiments are needed for the defense of the city.

   Synonyms:

   safeguard, security

2. something that guards against harm, such as a fortification, physical or mental quality, or medication.

   This fort was once the main defense of the island.

3. the support of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc..

   He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

   Synonyms:

   justification, advocacy, support

4. a speech, argument, etc., in vindication.

   She delivered a defense of free enterprise.

5. Law.

   1. the denial or pleading of the defendant in answer to the claim or charge that has been made.

   2. the proceedings adopted by a defendant or the defendant's legal agents, for defending against the charges that have been made.

   3. a defendant and their counsel.

6. Psychology. defense mechanism.

7. Sports.

   1. the practice or art of shielding oneself or one's goal from attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, or football.

   2. the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.

   3. the players of a team who line up in their own defensive zone.

   4. the positions on the field, ice, etc., taken by such players.

8. Also called Defense Department. (initial capital letter) the Department of Defense.

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verb (used with object)

defensed, defensing

1. Sports. to defend against (an opponent, play, or tactic).

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• defenselessness
  noun
• nondefense
  noun
• predefense
  noun
• defenseless
  adjective
• undefensed
  adjective
• defenselessly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• defenses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of defense

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English from Old French from Late Latin dēfēnsa “a forbidding,” noun use of feminine of past participle of Latin dēfendere “to defend ”; replacing Middle English defens, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin defēnsum “(thing) forbidden,” neuter past participle of Latin dēfendere

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Explanation

Defense has to do with protecting something or fighting against an opponent, whether it's national defense, a football team's defense, or a defense lawyer. Defense is the opposite of offense. It has to do with defending against all sorts of things: In the military, defense is about protecting a country from attack. In sports, defense is supposed to stop the other team from scoring. A defense attorney tries to prove his client is innocent. A defense can even be an excuse for doing something, as in "In my own defense, I was sleepwalking at the time."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

defense defenses defensed defensing

"Janones is going to be the minister of defense," a young woman joked to her friends during Sao Paulo's raucous celebrations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

In classrooms like Jackson’s, it’s evolved into a frontline defense against predatory debt and generational wealth gaps.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

The department dedicated resources under an office called the National Protection and Programs Directorate to help fortify advanced cyber defense systems and important infrastructure.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026

Although these molecules have useful roles in normal cell signaling and immune defense, excessive production can contribute to oxidative stress and damage blood vessels and other tissues.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

The clinic was the second line of defense.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Facing different defenses than he saw while being the Lakers’ fourth offensive option, Hachimura’s efficiency has dipped.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

These bacteria are surrounded by protective outer coatings that can help them evade immune defenses.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said Wednesday that air defenses intercepted a drone targeting a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Jamie Dimon is warning business leaders to boost their defenses against cybersecurity threats that have mounted with the arrival of powerful new AI models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

The president wanted his enemies to think that America's defenses were impenetrable.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Over his career, he has 253 tackles and 17 passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025

This is his sixth season, all with the Chargers, and for his career has five interceptions and 21 passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

In his first start of the season, Burns responded with five tackles and one pass defensed in 63 snaps.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 21, 2023

He still finished with a season-high eight tackles, one for a loss, and the helmet-assisted pass defensed.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2023

Then I may think myself to be Well recompensed, For wearing of the tree that is So well defensed Against all weather that doth fall When wayward winter spits his gall.

From A History of Elizabethan Literature by George Saintsbury

It's also impossible not to look at the fact we could of and should have done a better job of defensing it.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2011

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