defense

American  

[dih-fens, dee-fens] / dɪˈfɛns, ˈdi fɛns /

noun

• defenses
  plural

1. resistance against attack; protection.

   Two more regiments are needed for the defense of the city.

   Synonyms:

   safeguard, security

2. 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.

3. the support of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc..

   He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

   Synonyms:

   justification, advocacy, support

4. a speech, argument, etc., in vindication.

   She delivered a defense of free enterprise.

5. Law.

   1. the denial or pleading of the defendant in answer to the claim or charge that has been made.

   2. the proceedings adopted by a defendant or the defendant's legal agents, for defending against the charges that have been made.

   3. a defendant and their counsel.

6. Psychology. defense mechanism.

7. Sports.

   1. the practice or art of shielding oneself or one's goal from attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, or football.

   2. the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.

   3. the players of a team who line up in their own defensive zone.

   4. the positions on the field, ice, etc., taken by such players.

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

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verb (used with object)

defensed, defensing

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• defenselessness
  noun
• nondefense
  noun
• predefense
  noun
• defenseless
  adjective
• undefensed
  adjective
• defenselessly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• defenses
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

Defense has to do with protecting something or fighting against an opponent, whether it's national defense, a football team's defense, or a defense lawyer. Defense is the opposite of offense. It has to do with defending against all sorts of things: In the military, defense is about protecting a country from attack. In sports, defense is supposed to stop the other team from scoring. A defense attorney tries to prove his client is innocent. A defense can even be an excuse for doing something, as in "In my own defense, I was sleepwalking at the time."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

defense defenses defensed defensing

Though he didn’t put up big numbers in the playoffs, James was solid in his role, especially on defense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Some defense contractors involved in NGC2 said the Army has moved relatively quickly, reflecting an urgency to adapt as drones in Ukraine and the Middle East rapidly reshape modern warfare.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

And I wouldn’t be surprised if Pugh’s exquisite, gorgeously brutal rendition leads more of us to her defense.

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

USC executes yet another belly flop against a top opponent, and Gary Patterson’s vaunted defense is giving up more than 35 points per game in the Big Ten.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

A new liberal government under Alexander Kerensky vowed to continue the war for the defense of the Russian homeland.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Antidrone defenses have jammed the GPS signal on his watch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

Such missiles, which are designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound, can overcome air defenses due to their velocity and ability to change direction midflight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said its defenses intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Taif, a manufacturing center, and Yanbu, a port on the Red Sea.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

“Great defenses find a way to get off the field on third and fourth down,” Brown said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

They spoke for some time, and Mrs. Coulter was impressed by their accurate knowledge of the Church’s defenses, and their clear assessment of its leaders’ strengths.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

This is his sixth season, all with the Chargers, and for his career has five interceptions and 21 passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

Gilman started all five games for the Chargers this season with 22 tackles and three passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

He had 32 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 31 passes defensed, 12 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2023

The two rookies played well enough to keep the Rams out of the end zone all day, as Johnson got his first career interception and Valentine had three passes defensed.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 10, 2023

Then I may think myself to be Well recompensed, For wearing of the tree that is So well defensed Against all weather that doth fall When wayward winter spits his gall.

From A History of Elizabethan Literature by George Saintsbury

It's also impossible not to look at the fact we could of and should have done a better job of defensing it.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2011