defend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from oragainst ).
The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.
- Antonyms:
- attack
-
to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold.
She defended her claim successfully.
- Synonyms:
- vindicate
-
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.
-
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)
-
Law. to enter or make a defense.
-
Sports. to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
She’s a freshman who already scores and defends like a professional.
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
Related Words
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 Word Forms
- defendable adjective
- defender noun
- undefendable adjective
- undefendably adverb
- undefended adjective
- well-defended adjective
Etymology
Origin of defend
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” ( bane ( def. ) )
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.
Jersey's education minister has defended a new scheme that allows parents to claim back childcare costs for toddlers.
From BBC
Called 120 Bahadur – Hindi for brave hearts – the film tells the story of Indian soldiers who fought valiantly to defend the Rezang La pass in the freezing Himalayan mountains of Ladakh.
From BBC
The sprint for more munitions is a welcome development and a timely reminder that the U.S. can still choose to defend itself and its global interests.
Experts say the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is tasked with defending the government, remains the most organized force in the country and could take on any opposition movement.
From Los Angeles Times
“This is wrong, it is cruel, and we will take every step possible to defend the kids and families depending on all of us right now.”
From Salon
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.
