defense

[ dih-fens or, especially for 7, 9, dee-fens ]

/ dɪˈfɛns or, especially for 7, 9, ˈdi fɛns /

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See synonyms for: defense / defenses on Thesaurus.com

noun

resistance against attack; protection: Two more regiments are needed for the defense of the city.

something that guards against harm, such as a fortification, physical or mental quality, or medication: This fort was once the main defense of the island.

the support of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc.: He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

a speech, argument, etc., in vindication: She delivered a defense of free enterprise.

Law.

the denial or pleading of the defendant in answer to the claim or charge that has been made.
the proceedings adopted by a defendant or the defendant's legal agents, for defending against the charges that have been made.
a defendant and their counsel.

Psychology. defense mechanism (def. 2).

Sports.

the practice or art of shielding oneself or one's goal from attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, or football.
the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.
the players of a team who line up in their own defensive zone.
the positions on the field, ice, etc., taken by such players.

(initial capital letter)Also called Defense Department. Informal. the Department of Defense.

verb (used with object), de·fensed, de·fens·ing.

Sports. to defend against (an opponent, play, or tactic).

OTHER WORDS FOR defense

1 security, safeguard.

3 support, advocacy, justification.

See synonyms for defense on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also British, defence .

Origin of defense

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English from Old French from Late Latin dēfēnsa “a forbidding,” noun use of feminine of past participle of Latin dēfendere “to defend ”; replacing Middle English defens, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin defēnsum “(thing) forbidden,” neuter past participle of Latin dēfendere

OTHER WORDS FROM defense

de·fense·less, adjectivede·fense·less·ly, adverbde·fense·less·ness, nounnon·de·fense, noun, adjective

pre·de·fense, nounun·de·fensed, adjective

Words nearby defense

defender, defender of the bond, Defender of the Faith, defenestrate, defenestration, defense, defenseman, defense mechanism, defensible, defensive, defensive architecture

How to use defense in a sentence

Atlanta has started bolstering its defenses against climate change, but in some cases this has only exacerbated divisions.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration|by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
Much like the last time this club looked worthy of a title, in 2018, this defense is versatile enough to switch its assignments to guard ball screens.
Everything Should Be On The Table For The Houston Rockets. Even James Harden’s Future.|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 14, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
That key defense won’t change as more suits are filed, Kammer said.
Got interruption insurance? These companies found it’s useless in the age of COVID-19|Bernhard Warner|September 12, 2020|Fortune
Tensions have been mounting locally between federal defense attorneys and prosecutors over practices during the pandemic.
Federal Jail Downtown Now Has One of the Country’s Worst COVID Outbreaks|Maya Srikrishnan|September 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Matthews and his colleagues hypothesize that the plants might produce hexyl glucoside chemicals as a defense against the pests.
How does a crop’s environment shape a food’s smell and taste?|Carolyn Beans|September 10, 2020|Science News
I went into the audition as Fericito, the Venezuelan percussionist, and then I did a self-defense expert.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There is just no way of selling this picture with an innocent defense like, “she just asked for a snap.”
Buckingham Palace Disputes Sex Allegations Against Prince ‘Randy Andy’|Tom Sykes|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But, but … there was a token black girl in the background, Target cried in its defense!
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the fun starts when conservatives stop playing defense and go on offense.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And from there, the letter asked for money for a legal defense fund.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And all the while she fought him, she punctuated her blows with words, some abusing him, others in defense of her father.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
That, in the light of present conditions, is the most important thing for the necessary maintenance and defense of these islands.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Everything was placed in the best state of defense that time allowed, so that any attack of the enemy could be repulsed.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
I sent an order and what was necessary for the fortification at Oton, and had that port put in a state of defense.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Les rivieres de Seine & d'Aulbe rendent le lieu de cette Baronnie autant agreable, que fort & avantageux la defense.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various