defend

[dih-fend]

See more synonyms for defend on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from or against): The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.
to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold: She defended her claim successfully.
to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).

Law. to serve as attorney for (a defendant): He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.
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.
to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.

verb (used without object)

Law. to enter or make a defense.

Origin of defend

1200–50; Middle English defenden < Old French defendre < Latin dēfendere to ward off, equivalent to dē- de- + -fendere to strike

Related formsde·fend·a·ble, adjectivede·fend·er, nounpre·de·fend, verb (used with object)un·de·fend·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·fend·a·ble·ness, nounun·de·fend·a·bly, adverbun·de·fend·ed, adjectiveun·de·fend·ing, adjectivewell-de·fend·ed, adjective

Synonyms for defend

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. shelter, screen, shield; garrison, fortify. 2. vindicate.

Synonym study

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.

Antonyms for defend

1. attack.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for defend

preserve, contend, hold, secure, uphold, prevent, fight, resist, guard, maintain, oppose, retain, safeguard, shield, champion, support, advocate, back, assert, guarantee

Examples from the Web for defend

Contemporary Examples of defend

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists
Michael Daly
January 9, 2015
During coverage of that issue, Farrell went on a WSMB AM radio talk show to defend Duke.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise
Jason Berry
January 3, 2015
When our elected representatives assume their respective offices, they take an oath to “protect and defend the Constitution.”
Are Police Stealing People’s Property?
Joan Blades, Matt Kibbe
January 2, 2015
“Once we get to the point of being able to defend the case, then the thing can move forward,” he told the Beast.
Prosecutors Have No Idea When 9/11 Mastermind’s Trial Will Start
Tim Mak
December 17, 2014
Which politician wants to defend federally-subsidized abortions for convicted criminals?
The GOP’s Hidden Ban on Prison Abortions
Harold Pollack
December 13, 2014

Historical Examples of defend

To defend and avenge each other, is the deep feeling of all.
The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California
Brevet Col. J.C. Fremont
Will you then defend a man in speaking things that are not true?
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
She challenged his philosophy and gave him a chance to defend it.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Naturally he felt called upon to endorse his heroine, to defend her.
Quaint Courtships
Various
That brute of a Bouquet came spying about my castle, and I did but defend myself.
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa

British Dictionary definitions for defend

defend

verb

to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on
(tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence
to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action
sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack
(tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge

Derived Formsdefendable, adjectivedefender, noun

Word Origin for defend

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

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

Word Origin and History for defend

mid-13c., from Old French defendre (12c.) "defend, resist," and directly from Latin defendere "ward off, protect, guard, allege in defense," from de- "from, away" (see de-) + -fendere "to strike, push," from PIE root *gwhen- "to strike, kill" (see bane). In the Mercian hymns, Latin defendet is glossed by Old English gescildeð. Related: Defended; defending.