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.

---

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

The “body armor” in his possession was a metal plate that he planned to use for an art project, his defense attorney said in court records.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Rheinmetall shares plunged over 16% after the German defense group cut its annual forecasts for the second time this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Jimenez’s criminal defense attorney, federal public defender Ayah Sarsour, did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Now, Rheinmetall and other defense groups face uncertainty on the other side of the Atlantic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

The minister of defense, Rodion Malinovsky, was on the line.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

The breakthrough reveals that a chemical signal responsible for attracting immune cells to fight infections also helps prevent those same defenses from damaging healthy tissue.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026

In an attempt to rescue one of the NFL’s worst defenses, they traded a 2026 second rounder and the better of their two 2027 firsts for Jets lineman Quinnen Williams last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Derek Tisler, counsel and manager for the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice, said the federal government’s absence has weakened the defenses.

From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2026

Ukraine’s air defenses were unaffected as the app serves only to notify the public, Ihnat said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

It wasn’t anything to do with the captured Heinkel bomber; it was just an ordinary air raid, the Luftwaffe doing their worst to try to destroy British defenses.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Over his career, he has 253 tackles and 17 passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 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

Sneed had two interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 16 games last season, giving him 10 interceptions and 40 passes defensed in his four-year career.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2024

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---