defence

[ dih-fens ]

noun

, de·fenced, de·fenc·ing.

1. British. variant of defense.

defence

/ dɪˈfɛns /

noun

1. resistance against danger, attack, or harm; protection
2. a person or thing that provides such resistance
3. a plea, essay, speech, etc, in support of something; vindication; justification
4. 1. a country's military measures or resources
   2. ( as modifier )

      defence spending

5. law a defendant's denial of the truth of the allegations or charge against him
6. See prosecution
   law the defendant and his legal advisers collectively Compare prosecution
7. sport
   1. the action of protecting oneself, one's goal, or one's allotted part of the playing area against an opponent's attacks
   2. the method of doing this
   3. the defence the players in a team whose function is to do this
8. American football usually preceded by the
   1. the team that does not have possession of the ball
   2. the members of a team that play in such circumstances
9. See defence mechanism
   psychoanal See defence mechanism
10. plural fortifications

Derived Forms

• deˈfencelessly, adverb
• deˈfencelessness, noun
• deˈfenceless, adjective

Other Words From

• de·fencea·ble adjective
• de·fenceless adjective
• de·fenceless·ly adverb
• de·fenceless·ness noun
• prede·fence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defence¹

C13: from Old French, from Late Latin dēfensum, past participle of dēfendere to defend

Example Sentences

On the one hand, it has a time-tested relationship with Russia, hinged on defence and bilateral trade deals, and on the other, it needs allies and trade partners like the US to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the region.

From Quartz

The Australian Department of Defence did not name the model of e-bike used, nor give a decibel read for the engine.

From Popular-Science

That statue — with its inscribed tribute to Confederate soldiers “who, in defence of rights they believed sacred, took up arms against the invaders of Virginia” — gave him a chill every time he passed it.

From Washington Post

He headed Chatham House’s Asia Pacific Program and the University of Sydney’s China Studies Center, and has spoken to the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee about the UK’s approach to China.

From Quartz

Dennis recorded a single with John Lennon to raise money for a legal defence fund.

From The Daily Beast

In Estonia, Prince Harry will thank the Estonian Defence Forces for their support of British troops in Afghanistan.

From The Daily Beast

Well, the defence team of Britain's most famous publicist Max Clifford came out - swinging?

From The Daily Beast

Similar attacks then followed against the Latvian Ministry of Defence and Defence Forces sites.

From The Daily Beast

Hats off the Guardian, Britain's most thoughtful left-wing newspaper, for running a piece today in defence of Prince Charles.

From The Daily Beast

During this defence, the Empress frequently shook her head; and when it was finished, she rose from her chair.

From Project Gutenberg

She possessed also a great and philosophic mind, and wrote an able defence of Locke.

From Project Gutenberg

This of course must be laid to the credit of the local supporters of "the noble art of self-defence," the Brummagem bruisers.

From Project Gutenberg

No more admirable illustration can be found of the truth that the essence of defence lies in a vigorous local offence.

From Project Gutenberg

The Turks fired a mine under Quinn's Post and then rushed a section of the defence isolated by the explosion.

From Project Gutenberg