defend

[dih-fend]

verb (used with object)

1. to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from oragainst ).

   The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.

   Synonyms: fortify, garrison, shield, screen, shelter
   Antonyms: attack

2. to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold.

   She defended her claim successfully.

   Synonyms: vindicate

3. to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).

4. Law.,  to serve as attorney for (a defendant).

   He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.

5. 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.

6. 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)

1. Law.,  to enter or make a defense.

2. Sports.,  to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

   She’s a freshman who already scores and defends like a professional.

defend

/ dɪˈfɛnd /

verb

1. to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on

2. (tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence

3. to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action

4. sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack

5. (tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge

Other Word Forms

• defendable adjective
• defender noun
• undefendable adjective
• undefendably adverb
• undefended adjective
• well-defended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defend¹

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. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of defend¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

There was a swagger about the way India went about setting a total against the defending champions.

Read more on BBC

David Jakins, 84, was eventually cleared and returned to Southwick, near Oundle, on Sunday to defend his crown - only to be knocked out a by a woman dressed as a bee in the first round.

Read more on BBC

The White House framed the decision as a show of support for the armed forces, calling it “the least we can do for those who defend our country.”

Read more on Salon

“The Angels organization strongly disagrees with the claims made by the Skaggs family and we will vigorously defend these lawsuits in court.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors as well as defending China's own export controls on rare earths as "normal actions" to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• contend 
• fight 
• fight for www.thesaurus.com
• guard 
• hold 
• maintain 
• oppose 
• preserve 
• prevent 
• resist 
• safeguard 
• secure 
• shield 
• uphold