Dictionary.com

defend

[ dih-fend ]
/ dɪˈfɛnd /
See synonyms for: defend / defended / defending on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

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Origin of defend

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

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 FROM defend

Words nearby defend

defector, defederalize, defence, defence in depth, defence mechanism, defend, defendant, defender, defender of the bond, Defender of the Faith, defenestrate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to defend

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

Example sentences from the Web for defend

British Dictionary definitions for defend

defend
/ (dɪˈfɛnd) /

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 forms of defend

defendable, 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